Read the passage given below and answer the question:
In the last 10 years much has been learned about the molecular structure of elemental sulfur. It is now known that many different types of rings are sufficiently metastable to exist at room temperature for several days. It is known that at high temperature, the equilibrium composition allows for a variety of rings and chains to exist in comparable concentration, and it is known that at the boiling point and above, the vapor as well as the liquid contains small species with three, four, and five atoms.
The sulfur atom has the same number of valence electrons as oxygen. Thus, sulfur atoms `S_2` and `S_3` have physical and chemical properties analogous to those of oxygen and ozone. `S_2` has a ground state of 38 `sigma 3s^2 sigma "*"3s^2 sigma 3pz^2 pi 3px^2=pi3py^2 pi"*"3px^1=pi"*"3py^1.S3` , thiozone has a well- known uv spectrum, and has a bent structure, analogous to its isovalent molecules `O_3, SO_2`, and `S_2O`. The chemistry of the two elements, sulphur and oxygen, differs because sulfur has a pronounced tendency for catenation. The most frequently quoted explanation is based on the electron structure of the atom. Sulfur has low-lying unoccupied 3d orbitals, and it is widely believed that the 4s and 3d orbitals of sulfur participate in bonding in a manner similar to the participation of 2s and 2p orbitals in carbon.
(source: Meyer, B. (1976). Elemental sulfur. Chemical Reviews, 76(3), 367-388. doi:10.`1021//cr603010003` )
In the following question, a statement of assertion followed by a statement of reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the choices on the basis of the above passage.
Assertion: S2 is paramagnetic in nature
Reason: The electrons in `pi"*"3px` and `pi"*"3py` orbitals in `S_2` are unpaired.

Options

A. Assertion and reason both are correct statements and reason is correct explanation for assertion.
B. Assertion and reason both are correct statements but reason is not correct explanation for assertion.
C. Assertion is correct statement but reason is wrong statement.
D. Assertion is wrong statement but reason is correct statement.

Answer

To solve the question regarding the assertion and reason about the paramagnetic nature of \( S_2 \) and the presence of unpaired electrons in its molecular orbital configuration, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Assertion
The assertion states that \( S_2 \) is paramagnetic in nature. Paramagnetism is a property of materials that have unpaired electrons.

### Step 2: Analyze the Molecular Orbital Configuration
According to the passage, the ground state electronic configuration of \( S_2 \) is given as:
\[ \sigma 3s^2 \sigma^* 3s^2 \sigma 3p_z^2 \pi 3p_x^2 = \pi 3p_y^2 \pi^* 3p_x^1 = \pi^* 3p_y^1 \]
From this configuration, we can identify the number of unpaired electrons.

### Step 3: Identify Unpaired Electrons
In the configuration:
- The \( \pi^* 3p_x \) orbital has 1 unpaired electron.
- The \( \pi^* 3p_y \) orbital also has 1 unpaired electron.

Thus, \( S_2 \) has a total of 2 unpaired electrons.

### Step 4: Confirm the Paramagnetic Nature
Since \( S_2 \) has unpaired electrons, it is indeed paramagnetic. Therefore, the assertion is true.

### Step 5: Analyze the Reason
The reason states that the electrons in the \( \pi^* 3p_x \) and \( \pi^* 3p_y \) orbitals in \( S_2 \) are unpaired. This statement is also true, as we have identified that both of these orbitals contain unpaired electrons.

### Step 6: Conclusion
Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains the assertion. Hence, the correct answer is that both statements are true and the reason is the correct explanation for the assertion.

### Final Answer
Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation for the assertion.

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