Question

Does the sulfur atom have the same number of electrons as the sulfide ion?

Answer 1

Nope.........

Explanation:

Sulfur has 16 electrons in the neutral element. Upon reduction to sulfide, it gains an extra 2 electrons to give 18 of the little beasts:

`S + 2e^(-) rarr S^(2-)`

Charge and mass are balanced, as is required of any chemical equation.