Element "E" belongs to the period 4 and group 16 of the periodic table. The valence shell electron configuration of the element, which is just above "E" in the group is

Periodic Table and Periodicity PYQ — JEE Main 2022 · 28 Jun · Shift 1 · Q1 with Solution

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Correct answer: A

Identify element (E)

Group 16 elements are: $\text{O, S, Se, Te, Po}$

In period 4, the group 16 element is selenium (Se).
Find the element just above (E) in the same group

Selenium is in period 4, so the element directly above it in group 16 is sulfur (S), which is in period 3.
Write the valence shell configuration of sulfur

Sulfur has atomic number (16), so its electronic configuration is: $1s^2\,2s^2\,2p^6\,3s^2\,3p^4$

The valence shell is the outermost shell, i.e. (n=3). Hence the valence shell configuration is: $3s^2\,3p^4$
Match with the options
- A: (3s^2, 3p^4) ✅
- B: (3d^{10}, 4s^2, 4p^4) — this corresponds to selenium, not sulfur.
- C: (4d^{10}, 5s^2, 5p^4) — corresponds to a heavier group 16 element.
- D: (2s^2, 2p^4) — this is oxygen.

Therefore, the correct option is A.