Sulfur

When sulfur is burned, it melts to a blood-red liquid (top picture). At night (bottom picture) the flame is much more visible.
Sulfur crystals

Sulfur (or sulphur) is a chemical element. The symbol for sulfur is S, and its atomic number is 16.

Properties

Sulfur is a yellow solid that is a nonmetal. It is fragile (easily broken) and crystalline. It burns easily, releasing toxic fumes of sulfur dioxide. It has a very faint odor. If it is melted and cooled very quickly, it makes a rubbery form of sulfur that is called "plastic sulfur". It gradually turns back into the yellow brittle form. It does not dissolve in water. The smell normally known as "sulfur" comes from hydrogen sulfide and similar chemicals. These sulfides are produced when things decay without air.

Chemical compounds

Sulfur compounds are chemical compounds containing sulfur ions. Sulfur comes in several forms: oxidation states of -2 (hydrogen sulfide), +4 (sulfur dioxide, sulfites) and +6 (sulfuric acid, sulfates) are most common, although there are other oxidation states.

Sulfur oxides

  • Sulfur dioxide, colorless toxic heavy gas, used to preserve dried foods
  • Sulfur trioxide, various forms, sometimes liquid, irritating and toxic
  • Oleum, sulfur trioxide dissolved in sulfuric acid
 
Sulfur mining in Indonesia

Sulfur acids

Mixture of sulfur oxides and water

Sulfides

Salts of hydrogen sulfide

Sulfites

Salts of sulfurous acid

Sulfates and bisulfates

Salts of sulfuric acid

Other sulfur compounds

Sulfur(I) compounds
Sulfur(II) compounds
Sulfur(III) compounds
Sulfur(IV) compounds
Sulfur(V) compounds
Sulfur(VI) compounds

Occurrence and preparation

 
Sulfur powder made by reacting sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide from coal

Sulfur can be found in the earth near volcanoes. Many minerals contain sulfur ions. Coal contains sulfur ions which are released when it burns. Hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide are some sulfur compounds that are released when coal burns. They are reacted to make sulfur. Sulfur in the ground in melted, then forced up through pipes by compressed (squeezed) air.

Uses

Sulfur is commonly used in gunpowder, medicine, and matches. Matches release sulfur dioxide when they burn, giving them their smell. Sulfur is an essential component to living cells. Many proteins contain sulfur. It is also used as a pesticide on organic farms.

Etymology

Powder sulfur is said to be left after an occurrence of a supernatural being.

Toxicity and safety

Sulfur is not toxic, but the chemical compounds formed when sulfur burns can be very toxic. Sulfuric acid, for example, can make paper turn black!

History

The ancient name for sulfur is brimstone. Sulfur was used in fumigation (making fumes) and medicine in ancient Greece. In 1777, Antoine Lavosier convinced the scientific community that sulfur was an element.


Sulfur Media

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