EK Chemistry: Why can sulfur have so many bonds?

[Gauss44]

Can anyone suggest a website that explains why sulfur can have so many bonds? Or can you explain? How can you predict this?

Got this question from Examkrackers Chemistry, lecture question number 8.

For that matter, why is Se too large to form a double bond? What else is too large to form a double bond? Is there a cut-off point?

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[Jamie561]

D orbitals, bra

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[MedPR]

D orbitals, bra

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I came in here prepared to type the exact same answer.

d orbitals, brah.

 

[gettheleadout]

Same. Anything in the 3p block or higher can bond a bunch of stuff.

As to the size thing, I don't think there's an easy way to know. The only relevant fact I actually know off the top of my head is that fluorine is so small that the single bond in F2 is actually a pi bond instead of a sigma bond.