If x is the number of electrons and y is the number of nucleons present in ³²₁₆S²⁻, then which one of the following is correct?

The sulphur atom has atomic number 16 (16 protons, 16 electrons in neutral form) and mass number 32 (16 protons + 16 neutrons = 32 nucleons). The species S²⁻ has gained 2 extra electrons, so the number of electrons x = 16 + 2 = 18. The number of nucleons (protons + neutrons) is determined by the mass number and remains y = 32 (charge does not affect nucleon count). Hence x = 18 and y = 32.