16 phosphorus ← sulfur → chlorine O ↑ S ↓ Se Periodic table - Extended periodic table
General
Name, symbol, number	sulfur, S, 16
Chemical series	nonmetals
Group, period, block	16, 3, p
Appearance	Lemon yellow crystals. Phosphorus, (ˈfɒsfərəs is the Chemical element that has the symbol P and Atomic number 15 Chlorine (ˈklɔriːn from the Greek word 'χλωρóς' ( khlôros, meaning 'pale green' is the Chemical element with Atomic number 17 and Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Selenium (səˈliniəm is a Chemical element with the Atomic number 34 represented by the chemical symbol Se, an atomic mass of 78 This is a typical display of the periodic table of the elements and contains the symbol and Atomic number of each element Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of Chemical elements, sorted by name Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of chemical elements by symbol, including the A table of Chemical elements ordered by Atomic number and color coded according to type of element In Chemistry a group, also known as a family, is a vertical column in the Periodic table of the Chemical elements There are 18 groups in Nonmetal is a term used in Chemistry when classifying the Chemical elements On the basis of their general physical and chemical properties every element in the In Chemistry a group, also known as a family, is a vertical column in the Periodic table of the Chemical elements There are 18 groups in In the Periodic table of the elements, a period is a horizontal row of the table A block of the Periodic table of elements is a set of adjacent groups The respective highest-energy electrons in each element in a block belong to the same Atomic See also Gold chalcogenides Periodic table A period 3 element is one of the Chemical elements in the third row (or period) of the periodic table of the elements. See also Electron configuration
Standard atomic weight	32.065(5) g·mol−1
Electron configuration	[Ne] 3s2 3p4
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 6
Physical properties
Phase	solid
Density (near r.t.)	(alpha) 2. The atomic mass (ma is the Mass of an atom most often expressed in unified atomic mass units The atomic mass may be considered to be the total mass To help compare different orders of magnitude, the following list describes various Mass levels between 10&minus36&thinsp kg and 1053&thinspkg Molar mass, symbol M, is the Mass of one mole of a substance ( Chemical element or Chemical compound) In Atomic physics and Quantum chemistry, electron configuration is the arrangement of Electrons in an Atom, Molecule, or other Neon (ˈniːɒn is the Chemical element that has the symbol Ne and Atomic number 10 The electron is a fundamental Subatomic particle that was identified and assigned the negative charge in 1897 by J An electron shell may be crudely thought of as an Orbit followed by Electrons around an Atom nucleus. In the Physical sciences a phase is a Set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical composition and physical properties A solid' object is in the States of matter characterized by resistance to Deformation and changes of Volume. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed 07 g·cm−3
Density (near r.t.)	(beta) 1. Kilogram per cubic metre is the SI measure of Density and is represented as kg/m³ where kg stands for Kilogram and m³ stands for Cubic metre The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed 96 g·cm−3
Density (near r.t.)	(gamma) 1. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different Room temperature (also referred to as ambient temperature) is a common term to denote a certain Temperature within enclosed space at which humans are accustomed 92 g·cm−3
Liquid density at m.p.	1. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 819 g·cm−3
Melting point	388. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. 36 K (115. The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic 21 °C, 239. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 38 °F)
Boiling point	717. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the Vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid 8 K (444. The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic 6 °C, 832. The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. 3 °F)
Critical point	1314 K, 20. Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 In Physical chemistry, Thermodynamics, Chemistry and Condensed matter physics, a critical point, also called a critical state The kelvin (symbol K) is a unit increment of Temperature and is one of the seven SI base units The Kelvin scale is a thermodynamic 7 MPa
Heat of fusion	(mono) 1. The standard Enthalpy of fusion (symbol \Delta{}H_{fus} also known as the heat of fusion or specific melting heat, is the amount of 727 kJ·mol−1
Heat of vaporization	(mono) 45 kJ·mol−1
Specific heat capacity	(25 °C) 22. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material The enthalpy of vaporization, (symbol \Delta{}_{v}H also known as the heat of vaporization or heat of evaporation, is the Energy required The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material Specific heat capacity, also known simply as specific heat, is the measure of the heat energy required to increase the Temperature of a unit quantity 75 J·mol−1·K−1
Vapor pressure P/Pa 1 10 100 1 k 10 k 100 k at T/K 375 408 449 508 591 717
Atomic properties
Crystal structure	orthorhombic
Oxidation states	6, 4, 2, 1 [1], -2 (strongly acidic oxide)
Electronegativity	2. Vapor pressure (also known as equilibrium vapor pressure or saturation vapor pressure) is the Pressure of a Vapor in equilibrium In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. The oxidation number of a central atom in a coordination compound is the charge that it would have if all the Ligands were removed along with the Electron pairs In Computer science, ACID ( Atomicity Consistency Isolation Durability) is a set of properties that guarantee that Database transactions are " Electronegativity " is the opposite of " Electropositivity," which describes an element's ability to donate electrons 58 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies (more)	1st: 999. The ionization potential, ionization energy or EI of an Atom or Molecule is the Energy required to remove an Electron These tables list the Ionization energy in kJ/mol necessary to remove one mole of Electrons from one mole of neutral gaseous Atoms (first energy respectively 6 kJ·mol−1
	2nd: 2252 kJ·mol−1
	3rd: 3357 kJ·mol−1
Atomic radius	100 pm
Atomic radius (calc. The joule per mole (symbol J·mol-1 is an SI derived unit of energy per amount of material Atomic radius, and more generally the size of an atom, is not a precisely defined Physical quantity, nor is it constant in all circumstances A picometre ( American spelling: picometer, symbol pm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one trillionth )	88 pm
Covalent radius	102 pm
Van der Waals radius	180 pm
Miscellaneous
Magnetic ordering	no data
Electrical resistivity	(20 °C) (amorphous) 2×1015Ω·m
Thermal conductivity	(300 K) (amorphous) 0. The covalent radius, r cov is a measure of the size of Atom which forms part of a Covalent bond. Van der Waals Volume The van der Waals volume, V, also called the atomic volume or molecular volume, is the atomic property most directly In Physics, magnetism is one of the Phenomena by which Materials exert attractive or repulsive Forces on other Materials. Electrical resistivity (also known as specific electrical resistance) is a measure of how strongly a material opposes the flow of Electric current. In Physics, thermal conductivity, k is the property of a material that indicates its ability to conduct Heat. 205 W·m−1·K−1
Bulk modulus	7. 7 GPa
Mohs hardness	2. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness characterizes the scratch resistance of various Minerals through the ability of a harder material to scratch a softer material 0
CAS registry number	7704-34-9
Selected isotopes
Main article: Isotopes of sulfur iso NA half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 32S 95. CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for Chemical compounds Polymers biological sequences mixtures and Alloys They are also referred to Sulfur ( S) has 18 Isotopes four of which are stable 32S (9502% 33S (0 Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides In Chemistry, natural abundance (NA refers to the abundance Isotopes of a Chemical element as naturally found on a planet Half-Life (computer-game page here It's already listed in the disambiguation page Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable Atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting ionizing particles and Radiation. The decay energy is the Energy released by a Nuclear decay. The energy difference of the Reactants is often written as Q: where Q In Nuclear physics, a decay product, also known as a daughter product, daughter isotope or daughter nuclide, is a Nuclide 02% 32S is stable with 16 neutrons 33S 0. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. 75% 33S is stable with 17 neutrons 34S 4. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. 21% 34S is stable with 18 neutrons 35S syn 87.32 d β- 0. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. A synthetic radioisotope is a Radionuclide that is not found in nature no natural process or mechanism exists which produces it or it is so unstable that it decays away in To help compare Orders of magnitude of different times this page lists times between 106 seconds and 107 seconds (approximately 11 In Nuclear physics, beta decay is a type of Radioactive decay in which a Beta particle (an Electron or a Positron) is emitted 167 35Cl 36S 0. Chlorine (ˈklɔriːn from the Greek word 'χλωρóς' ( khlôros, meaning 'pale green' is the Chemical element with Atomic number 17 and 02% 36S is stable with 20 neutrons
References
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Sulfur or sulphur (pronounced /ˈsʌlfɚ/, see spelling below) is the chemical element that has the atomic number 16. Stable isotopes are chemical isotopes that are not Radioactive (to current knowledge This article is a discussion of neutrons in general For the specific case of a neutron found outside the nucleus see Free neutron. Recommended values for many properties of the elements together with various references are collected on these data pages A chemical element is a type of Atom that is distinguished by its Atomic number; that is by the number of Protons in its nucleus. See also List of elements by atomic number In Chemistry and Physics, the atomic number (also known as the proton It is denoted with the symbol S. It is an abundant multivalent non-metal. In Chemistry, valence, also known as valency or valency number, is a measure of the number of Chemical bonds formed by the Atoms Nonmetal is a term used in Chemistry when classifying the Chemical elements On the basis of their general physical and chemical properties every element in the Sulfur, in its native form, is a yellow crystalline solid. In nature, it can be found as the pure element and as sulfide and sulfate minerals. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. The term sulfide ( sulphide in British English) refers to several types of Chemical compounds containing Sulfur in its lowest Oxidation It is an essential element for life and is found in two amino acids, cysteine and methionine. In Chemistry, an amino acid is a Molecule containing both Amine and Carboxyl Functional groups In Biochemistry, this Not to be confused with Cystine, its oxidized dimer Cysteine (abbreviated as Cys or C) is an α- Amino acid with Methionine ( abbreviated as Met or M) is an α- Amino acid with the Chemical formula HO2CCH(NH2CH2CH2SCH3 Its commercial uses are primarily in fertilizers, but it is also widely used in gunpowder, matches, insecticides and fungicides. Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes A match is a consumable Tool for lighting a Fire under controlled circumstances on demand An insecticide is a Pesticide used against Insects in all developmental forms Fungicides are Chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores Elemental sulfur crystals are commonly sought after by mineral collectors for their brightly colored polyhedron shapes. What is a polyhedron? We can at least say that a polyhedron is built up from different kinds of element or entity each associated with a different number of dimensions In nonscientific context it can also be referred to as brimstone.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Spelling and etymology 2 Characteristics 2.1 Allotropes 2.2 Isotopes 2.3 Occurrence 3 Extraction and production 3.1 Extraction from natural resources 3.2 Production from hydrogen sulfide 3.2.1 Chemically 3.2.2 Biologically 4 Chemistry 4.1 Inorganic compounds 4.2 Organic compounds 5 Applications 5.1 Specialized applications 5.2 Historical applications 5.3 Fungicide 6 Biological role 6.1 Traditional medical role for elemental sulfur 7 Precautions 7.1 Environmental impact 8 See also 9 References 10 External links

History

Sulfur (Sanskrit, sulvari; Latin sulfur or sulpur) was known in ancient times, and is referred to in the Biblical Pentateuch (Genesis). Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin term " Torah " ( Hebrew: תּוֹרָה "teaching" or "instruction" sometimes translated as "Law" most commonly refers to

English translations of the Bible commonly referred to sulfur as "brimstone", giving rise to the name of 'fire and brimstone' sermons, in which listeners are reminded of the fate of eternal damnation that awaits the unbelieving and unrepentant. A sermon is an oration by a Prophet or member of the Clergy. Sermons address a Biblical, theological, or religious topic It is from this part of the Bible that Hell is implied to "smell of sulfur", although as mentioned above sulfur is in fact odorless. Hell, according to many Religious beliefs, is a location in the Afterlife, which may be described as a place of suffering The "smell of sulfur" usually refers to either the odor of hydrogen sulfide, e. Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. g. from rotten egg, or of burning sulfur, which produces sulfur dioxide, the smell associated with burnt matches. Hydrogen sulfide is the principle odor of untreated sewage and is one of several smelly sulfur-containing components of flatulance (along with sulfur-containing mercaptans). Sewage is the mainly liquid Waste containing some solids produced by humans which typically consists of washing water Feces, Urine, laundry waste and other Flatulence is the production of a mixture of gases in the digestive tract of Mammals that are byproducts of the digestion process In Organic chemistry, a thiol is a compound that contains the functional group composed of a Sulfur atom and a Hydrogen atom (-SH

Sulfur was known in China since the 6th century BC, in a natural form that the Chinese had called 'brimstone', or shiliuhuang that was found in Hanzhong. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National Hanzhong ( is a city in Shaanxi province in central China. Population (2004 approx ^[1] By the 3rd century, the Chinese discovered that sulfur could be extracted from pyrite. ^[1] Chinese Daoists were interested in sulfur's flammability and its reactivity with certain metals, yet its earliest practical uses were found in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine (also known as TCM,) includes a range of traditional medical practices originating in China. ^[1] A Song Dynasty military treatise of 1044 AD described different formulas for Chinese gun powder, which is a mixture of potassium nitrate (KNO₃), carbon, and sulfur. The Song Dynasty ( Wade-Giles: Sung Ch'ao was a ruling dynasty in China between 960&ndash1279 CE it succeeded the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes Potassium nitrate is a Chemical compound with the Chemical formula K[[Nitrogen N]] O 3 Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 Early alchemists gave sulfur its own alchemical symbol which was a triangle at the top of a cross. Alchemy a part of the Occult Tradition is both a philosophy and a practice with an ultimately unknown aim involving the improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of Alchemic symbols, originally devised as part of the Protoscience of Alchemy, were used to denote some elements and some compounds until the 18th century

In 1777 Antoine Lavoisier helped convince the scientific community that sulfur was an element and not a compound. In 1867, sulfur was discovered in underground deposits in Louisiana and Texas. The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The overlying layer of earth was quicksand, prohibiting ordinary mining operations, therefore the Frasch process was used. Quicksand is a Colloid Hydrogel consisting of fine Granular matter (such as Sand or Silt) Clay, and The Frasch process is a method to extract Sulfur from underground deposits

Spelling and etymology

The element has traditionally been spelled sulphur in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Commonwealth, Caribbean and India, but sulfur in the United States, while both spellings are used in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The English noun commonwealth dates from the fifteenth century. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page IUPAC adopted the spelling “sulfur” in 1990, as did the Royal Society of Chemistry Nomenclature Committee in 1992^[2] and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority for England and Wales recommended its use in 2000. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ( IUPAC) (aɪjuːpæk or ay-yoo-pec) is an international Non-governmental organization The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC is a Learned society ( Professional association) in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the ^[3]

In Latin, the word is variously written sulpur, sulphur, and sulfur (the Oxford Latin Dictionary lists the spellings in this order). It is an original Latin name and not a Classical Greek loan, so the ph variant does not denote the Greek letter φ. The Ancient Greek language is the historical stage in the development of the Hellenic language family spanning the Archaic (c Sulfur in Greek is thion (θείον), whence comes the prefix thio-. The prefix thio-, when applied to a chemical such as an Ion, denotes that there is at least one extra Sulfur Atom added to the chemical named The simplification of the Latin word's p or ph to an f appears to have taken place towards the end of the classical period, with the f spelling becoming dominant in the medieval period. ^[4]

Characteristics

At room temperature, sulfur is a soft bright yellow solid. Elemental sulfur has only a faint odor, similar to that of matches. A match is a consumable Tool for lighting a Fire under controlled circumstances on demand The odor associated with rotten eggs is due to hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and organic sulfur compounds rather than elemental sulfur. Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. Sulfur burns with a blue flame that emits sulfur dioxide, notable for its peculiar suffocating odor. Sulfur is insoluble in water but soluble in carbon disulfide and to a lesser extent in other non-polar organic solvents such as benzene and toluene. Solubility is the characteristic Physical property referring to the ability of a given substance the Solute, to dissolve in a Solvent. Benzene, or benzol, is an organic Chemical compound and a known Carcinogen with the molecular formula C 6 H 6 Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenylmethane, is a clear water -insoluble liquid with the typical smell of Paint thinners redolent of Common oxidation states of sulfur include −2, +2, +4 and +6. In Chemistry, the oxidation state is an indicator of the degree of Oxidation of an Atom in a Chemical compound. Sulfur forms stable compounds with all elements except the noble gases. History Noble gas is translated from the German noun de ''Edelgas'' first used in 1898 by Hugo Erdmann to indicate their extremely low level of reactivity Sulfur in the solid state ordinarily exists as cyclic crown-shaped S₈ molecules.

The crystallography of sulfur is complex. Crystallography is the experimental science of determining the arrangement of Atoms in Solids In older usage it is the scientific study of Crystals The Depending on the specific conditions, the sulfur allotropes form several distinct crystal structures, with rhombic and monoclinic S₈ best known. Allotropy (Gr allos, other and tropos, manner is a behavior exhibited by certain Chemical elements these elements can exist in two or more different In Mineralogy and Crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of Atoms in a Crystal. In Geometry, a rhombus (from Ancient Greek ῥόμβος - rrhombos “rhombus spinning top” (plural rhombi or rhombuses In Crystallography, the monoclinic Crystal system is one of the 7 lattice Point groups A crystal system is described by three vectors.

A noteworthy property of sulfur is that its viscosity in its molten state, unlike most other liquids, increases above temperatures of 200 °C due to the formation of polymers. Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a Fluid which is being deformed by either Shear stress or Extensional stress. A polymer is a large Molecule ( Macromolecule) composed of repeating Structural units typically connected by Covalent Chemical bonds The molten sulfur assumes a dark red color above this temperature. At higher temperatures, however, the viscosity is decreased as depolymerization occurs.

Amorphous or "plastic" sulfur can be produced through the rapid cooling of molten sulfur. An amorphous solid is a Solid in which there is no Long-range order of the positions of the Atoms (Solids in which there is long-range atomic order are X-ray crystallography studies show that the amorphous form may have a helical structure with eight atoms per turn. X-ray crystallography is a method of determining the arrangement of Atoms within a Crystal, in which a beam of X-rays strikes a crystal and scatters A helix (pl helixes or helices) from the Greek word έλιξ, is a special kind of Space curve, i This form is metastable at room temperature and gradually reverts back to crystalline form. Metastability is a general scientific concept which describes states of delicate equilibrium This process happens within a matter of hours to days but can be rapidly catalyzed.

Allotropes

Main article: Allotropes of sulfur

Sulfur forms more than 30 solid allotropes, more than any other element. There are a large number of allotropes of Sulfur. In this respect sulfur is second only to carbon. Allotropy (Gr allos, other and tropos, manner is a behavior exhibited by certain Chemical elements these elements can exist in two or more different ^[5] Besides S₈, several other rings are known. ^[6] Removing one atom from the crown gives S₇, which is more deeply yellow than S₈. HPLC analysis of "elemental sulfur" reveals an equilibrium mixture of mainly S₈, but also S₇ and small amounts of S₆. High-performance liquid chromatography (or High pressure liquid chromatography, HPLC) is a form of Column chromatography used frequently in Biochemistry ^[7] Larger rings have been prepared, including S₁₂ and S₁₈. ^[8][9] By contrast, sulfur's lighter neighbor oxygen only exists in two states of allotropic significance: O₂ and O₃. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Selenium, the heavier analogue of sulfur can form rings but is more often found as a polymer chain. Selenium (səˈliniəm is a Chemical element with the Atomic number 34 represented by the chemical symbol Se, an atomic mass of 78

Isotopes

Main article: Isotopes of sulfur

Sulfur has 18 isotopes, four of which are stable: ³²S (95. Sulfur ( S) has 18 Isotopes four of which are stable 32S (9502% 33S (0 Isotopes (Greek isos = "equal" tópos = "site place" are any of the different types of atoms ( Nuclides 02%), ³³S (0. 75%), ³⁴S (4. 21%), and ³⁶S (0. 02%). Other than ³⁵S, the radioactive isotopes of sulfur are all short lived. A radionuclide is an Atom with an unstable nucleus, which is a nucleus characterized by excess energy which is available to be imparted either to a newly-created ³⁵S is formed from cosmic ray spallation of ⁴⁰argon in the atmosphere. For the 1962 Bruce Conner film see Cosmic Ray (film Cosmic rays are energetic particles originating from space that impinge on In general spallation is a process in which fragments of material ( Spall) are ejected from a body due to impact or stress This article pertains to the chemical element For other uses see Argon (disambiguation. Temperature and layers The temperature of the Earth's atmosphere varies with altitude the mathematical relationship between temperature and altitude varies among five It has a half-life of 87 days. Half-Life (computer-game page here It's already listed in the disambiguation page

When sulfide minerals are precipitated, isotopic equilibration among solids and liquid may cause small differences in the δS-34 values of co-genetic minerals. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific The differences between minerals can be used to estimate the temperature of equilibration. The δC-13 and δS-34 of coexisting carbonates and sulfides can be used to determine the pH and oxygen fugacity of the ore-bearing fluid during ore formation. Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 In Chemistry, a carbonate is a salt or Ester of Carbonic acid. pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a Solution. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Fugacity is a measure of a Chemical potential in the form of 'adjusted pressure

In most forest ecosystems, sulfate is derived mostly from the atmosphere; weathering of ore minerals and evaporites also contribute some sulfur. A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria Sulfur with a distinctive isotopic composition has been used to identify pollution sources, and enriched sulfur has been added as a tracer in hydrologic studies. Hydrology (from Greek Yδωρ hudōr, "water" and λόγος logos, "study" is the study of the movement distribution and quality of Differences in the natural abundances can also be used in systems where there is sufficient variation in the ³⁴S of ecosystem components. In Chemistry, natural abundance (NA refers to the abundance Isotopes of a Chemical element as naturally found on a planet Rocky Mountain lakes thought to be dominated by atmospheric sources of sulfate have been found to have different δS-34 values from lakes believed to be dominated by watershed sources of sulfate. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America.

Occurrence

Elemental sulfur can be found near hot springs and volcanic regions in many parts of the world, especially along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Wai-O-Tapu ( Māori for “Sacred Waters” is an active geothermal area just north of the Reporoa caldera in New Zealand 's Taupo Volcanic A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated Groundwater from the earth's crust. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island A hot spring is a spring that is produced by the emergence of geothermally heated Groundwater from the earth's crust. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the Such volcanic deposits are currently mined in Indonesia, Chile, and Japan. The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Sicily is also famous for its sulfur mines. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy.

Significant deposits of elemental sulfur also exist in salt domes along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, and in evaporites in eastern Europe and western Asia. A salt dome is a type of structural dome formed when a thick bed of Evaporite minerals (mainly salt or Halite) found at depth intrudes vertically into The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world Evaporites (iˈvæpəraɪt are water-soluble Mineral sediments that result from the Evaporation of bodies of surficial Water. The sulfur in these deposits is believed to come from the action of anaerobic bacteria on sulfate minerals, especially gypsum, although apparently native sulfur may be produced by geological processes alone, without the aid of living organisms (see below). An anaerobic organism is any Organism that does not require Oxygen for growth and may even die in its presence A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific Gypsum is a very soft Mineral composed of Calcium sulfate dihydrate with the Chemical formula Ca[[sulfur S]] O 4·2 However, fossil-based sulfur deposits from salt domes are the basis for commercial production in the United States, Poland, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending Turkmenistan ( Türkmenistan; also known as Turkmenia) is a Turkic country in Central Asia. Ukraine (Україна Ukrayina, /ukrɑˈjinɑ/ is a country in Eastern Europe.

Sulfur production through hydrodesulfurization of oil, gas, and the Athabasca Oil Sands has produced a surplus - huge stockpiles of sulfur now exist throughout Alberta, Canada. Alberta (ælˈbɝtə is one of Canada's prairie provinces. It became a province on September 1 1905 Vancouver (vænˈkuːvɚ is a coastal British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C Hydrodesulfurization (HDS is a Catalytic chemical process widely used to remove Sulfur (S from Natural gas and from refined petroleum products The Athabasca Oil Sands (also known as the Athabasca Tar Sands) are large deposits of Bitumen, or extremely Heavy crude oil, located in northeastern

Common naturally occurring sulfur compounds include the sulfide minerals, such as pyrite (iron sulfide), cinnabar (mercury sulfide), galena (lead sulfide), sphalerite (zinc sulfide) and stibnite (antimony sulfide); and the sulfates, such as gypsum (calcium sulfate), alunite (potassium aluminium sulfate), and barite (barium sulfate). A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific Cinnabar, sometimes written cinnabarite, is a name applied to red Mercury(II sulfide ( Hg[[sulfide S]] or native Vermilion, the common Galena is the natural mineral form of Lead sulfide. It is the most important Lead Ore mineral Sphalerite (( Zn, Fe) S) is a Mineral that is the chief Ore of Zinc. Stibnite, sometimes called antimonite, is a Sulfide Mineral with the formula Sb 2 S 3 Alunite, or alumstone is a Mineral that was first observed in the 15th century in Monti della Tolfa, north to Rome, where it was mined Baryte ( Ba[[Sulfur S]] O 4 is a Mineral consisting of Barium sulfate. It occurs naturally in volcanic emissions, such as from hydrothermal vents, and from bacterial action on decaying sulfur-containing organic matter. A hydrothermal vent is a Fissure in a planet's surface from which geothermally heated Water issues

The distinctive colors of Jupiter's volcanic moon, Io, are from various forms of molten, solid and gaseous sulfur. Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the TemplateInfobox Planet.--> Io (ˈaɪoʊ, or as Greek There is also a dark area near the Lunar crater Aristarchus that may be a sulfur deposit. In the broadest sense the term impact crater can be applied to any depression natural or manmade resulting from the high velocity impact of a projectile with larger body Aristarchus is a prominent lunar Impact crater that lies in the northwest part of the Moon's near side

Sulfur is present in many types of meteorites. A meteorite is a natural object originating in Outer space that survives an impact with the Earth 's surface Ordinary chondrites contain on average 2. 1% sulfur, and carbonaceous chondrites may contain as much as 6. 6%. Sulfur in meteorites is normally present entirely as troilite (FeS), but other sulfides are found in some meteorites, and carbonaceous chondrites contain free sulfur, sulfates, and possibly other sulfur compounds. ^[10]

Extraction and production

Extraction from natural resources

Sulfur is extracted by mainly two processes: the Sicilian process and the Frasch process. The Frasch process is a method to extract Sulfur from underground deposits The Sicilian process, which was first used in Sicily, was used in ancient times to get sulfur from rocks present in volcanic regions. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. In this process, the sulfur deposits are piled and stacked in brick kilns built on sloping hillsides, and with airspaces between them. Then powdered sulfur is put on top of the sulfur deposit and ignited. As the sulfur burns, the heat melts the sulfur deposits, causing the molten sulfur to flow down the sloping hillside. The molten sulfur can then be collected in wooden buckets.

The second process used to obtain sulfur is the Frasch process. In this method, three concentric pipes are used: the outermost pipe contains superheated water, which melts the sulfur, and the innermost pipe is filled with hot compressed air, which serves to create foam and pressure. The resulting sulfur foam is then expelled through the middle pipe.

The Frasch process produces sulfur with a 99. 5% purity content, and which needs no further purification. The sulfur produced by the Sicilian process must be purified by distillation.

Production from hydrogen sulfide

Chemically

The Claus process is used to extract elemental sulfur from hydrogen sulfide produced in hydrodesulfurization of petroleum or from natural gas. The Claus process is the most significant gas desulfurizing process recovering elemental Sulfur from gaseous Hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS is a Catalytic chemical process widely used to remove Sulfur (S from Natural gas and from refined petroleum products Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane,

Biologically

In the biological route, hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from natural gas or refinery gas is absorbed with a slight alkaline solution in a wet scrubber. Or the sulfide is produced by biological sulfate reduction. In the subsequent process step, the dissolved sulfide is biologically converted to elemental sulfur. This solid sulfur is removed from the reactor. This process has been built on commercial scale. The main advantages of this process are:

1. no use of expensive chemicals,
2. the process is safe as the H₂S is directly absorbed in an alkaline solution,
3. no production of a polluted waste stream,
4. re-usable sulfur is produced, and
5. the process occurs under ambient conditions.

The biosulfur product is different from other processes in which sulfur is produced because the sulfur is hydrophillic. Next to straightforward reuses as source for sulfuric acid production, it can also be applied as sulfur fertilizer. ^[11]

Chemistry

Inorganic compounds

Hydrogen sulfide has the characteristic smell of rotten eggs. Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. Dissolved in water, hydrogen sulfide is acidic and will react with metals to form a series of metal sulfides. Natural metal sulfides are common, especially those of iron. Iron sulfide is called pyrite, the so-called fool's gold. Pyrite can show semiconductor properties. ^[12] Galena, a naturally occurring lead sulfide, was the first semiconductor discovered, and found a use as a signal rectifier in the "cat's whiskers" of early crystal radios. Galena is the natural mineral form of Lead sulfide. It is the most important Lead Ore mineral A semiconductor' is a Solid material that has Electrical conductivity in between a conductor and an insulator; it can vary over that A rectifier is an electrical device that converts Alternating current (AC to Direct current (DC a process known as rectification.

Many of the unpleasant odors of organic matter are based on sulfur-containing compounds such as methyl and ethyl mercaptan, also used to scent natural gas so that leaks are easily detectable. Methanethiol (also known as methyl mercaptan) is a colorless gas with a smell like rotten Cabbage. Ethanethiol is the Organic compound with the formula CH3CH2SH The odor of garlic and "skunk stink" are also caused by sulfur-containing organic compounds. Allium sativum L, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the Onion family Alliaceae. Skunks (sometimes referred to as polecats) are Mammals best known for their ability to excrete a strong foul-smelling odor. Not all organic sulfur compounds smell unpleasant; for example, grapefruit mercaptan, a sulfur-containing monoterpenoid is responsible for the characteristic scent of grapefruit. Grapefruit mercaptan is the common name for a natural Organic compound found in Grapefruit. Terpenes are a large and varied class of Hydrocarbons, produced primarily by a wide variety of plants particularly Conifers though also by some insects such

Polymeric sulfur nitride has metallic properties even though it does not contain any metal atoms. The M acro E xpansion T emplate A ttribute L anguage complements TAL, providing macros which allow the reuse of code across This compound also has unusual electrical and optical properties. This polymer can be made from tetrasulfur tetranitride S₄N₄. Tetrasulfur tetranitride is an Inorganic compound with the formula S4N4

Phosphorus sulfides are useful in synthesis. For example, P₄S₁₀ and its derivatives Lawesson's reagent and naphthalen-1,8-diyl 1,3,2,4-dithiadiphosphetane 2,4-disulfide are used to replace oxygen from some organic molecules with sulfur. Lawesson's reagent, or LR, is a Chemical compound used in Organic synthesis as a Thiation agent A compound related to Lawesson's reagent named NpP2S4 has been formed by the reaction of 1-bromo Naphthalene with P4S10

• Sulfides (S²⁻), a complex family of compounds usually derived from S²⁻. The term sulfide ( sulphide in British English) refers to several types of Chemical compounds containing Sulfur in its lowest Oxidation Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is an example. Cadmium sulfide is a chemical compound with the formula CdS. Cadmium sulfide is yellow in colour and is a semiconductor
• Sulfites (SO₃²⁻), the salts of sulfurous acid (H₂SO₃) which is generated by dissolving SO₂ in water. Sulfites (also sulphites) are compounds that contain the sulfite Ion S[[oxygen O]]32− Sulfurous acid is the Chemical compound with the formula H2SO3 Sulfurous acid and the corresponding sulfites are fairly strong reducing agents. Other compounds derived from SO₂ include the pyrosulfite or metabisulfite ion (S₂O₅²⁻).
• Sulfates (SO₄²⁻), the salts of sulfuric acid. Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. Sulfuric acid also reacts with SO₃ in equimolar ratios to form pyrosulfuric acid (H₂S₂O₇). Oleum ( Latin oleum = "oil" or fuming sulfuric acid refers to a solution various compositions of Sulfur trioxide in Sulfuric
• Thiosulfates(S₂O₃²⁻). Sodium thiosulfate ( Na 2 S 2 O 3 is a colorless Crystalline compound that is more familiar as the Pentahydrate Sometimes referred as thiosulfites or "hyposulfites", Thiosulfates are used in photographic fixing (HYPO) as reducing agents. Ammonium thiosulfate is being investigated as a cyanide replacement in leaching gold. A cyanide is any Chemical compound that contains the cyano group (C≡N which consists of a Carbon Atom triple-bonded to a Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 [2]
• Sodium dithionite, Na₂S₂O₄, is the highly reducing dianion derived from hyposulfurous/dithionous acid. Sodium dithionite (aka sodium hydrosulfite or sodium hydrosulphite is a white Crystalline powder with a weak Sulfurous odor
• Sodium dithionate (Na₂S₂O₆). For the sterilizing agent see Sodium metabisulfite. For the reducing agent see Sodium dithionite.
• Polythionic acids (H₂S_nO₆), where n can range from 3 to 80.
• Peroxymonosulfuric acid (H₂SO₅) and peroxydisulfuric acids (H₂S₂O₈), made from the action of SO₃ on concentrated H₂O₂, and H₂SO₄ on concentrated H₂O₂ respectively. Peroxymonosulfuric acid, also known as persulfuric acid, peroxysulfuric acid, or as Caro's acid, is H2SO5 a colorless solid melting Peroxydisulfuric is a Sulfur Oxoacid with the chemical formula H2S2O8 Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2 is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution slightly more Viscous than water Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid.
• Sodium polysulfides (Na₂S_x)
• Sulfur hexafluoride, SF₆, a dense gas at ambient conditions, is used as nonreactive and nontoxic propellant
• Sulfur nitrides are chain and cyclic compounds containing only S and N. Sulfur hexafluoride is an Inorganic compound with the formula. Tetrasulfur tetranitride S₄N₄ is an example. Tetrasulfur tetranitride is an Inorganic compound with the formula S4N4
• Thiocyanates contain the SCN⁻ group. Thiocyanate (also known as sulphocyanate or thiocyanide or rhodanide) is the anion − Oxidation of thiocyanoate gives thiocyanogen, (SCN)₂ with the connectivity NCS-SCN. Thiocyanogen, (SCN2 is a Pseudohalogen derived from the pseudohalide Thiocyanate, −

Organic compounds

(R, R', and R are organic groups such as CH₃):

• Thioethers have the form R-S-R′. A thioether (similar to Sulfide) is a functional group in Organic chemistry that has the structure R1-S-R2 as shown on right These compounds are the sulfur equivalents of ethers. Ether is a class of Organic compounds which contain an ether group — an Oxygen Atom connected to two (substituted Alkyl
• Sulfonium ions have the formula RR'S-'R'", i. A sulfonium ion, also known as sulphonium ion and sulfanium ion, is a positively charged Sulfur Ion carrying three Alkyl groups e. where three groups are attached to the cationic sulfur center. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP; (CH₃)₂S⁺CH₂CH₂COO⁻) is a sulfonium ion, which is important in the marine organic sulfur cycle. Dimethylsulfoniopropionate ((CH32S+CH2CH2COO&minus more frequently abbreviated to DMSP) is a Metabolite Sulfur is one of the constituents of many Proteins Vitamins and Hormones It recycles as in other Biogeochemical cycles The essential
• Thiols (also known as mercaptans) have the form R-SH. In Organic chemistry, a thiol is a compound that contains the functional group composed of a Sulfur atom and a Hydrogen atom (-SH These are the sulfur equivalents of alcohols. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon
• Thiolates ions have the form R-S^-. In Organic chemistry, a thiol is a compound that contains the functional group composed of a Sulfur atom and a Hydrogen atom (-SH Such anions arise upon treatment of thiols with base. In Organic chemistry, a thiol is a compound that contains the functional group composed of a Sulfur atom and a Hydrogen atom (-SH
• Sulfoxides have the form R-S(=O)-R′. A sulfoxide is a Chemical compound containing a sulfinyl Functional group attached to two carbon atoms The simplest sulfoxide, DMSO, is a common solvent. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO is the Chemical compound with the formula (CH32SO
• Sulfones have the form R-S(=O)₂-R′. A sulfone is a Chemical compound containing a Sulfonyl Functional group attached to two carbon atoms A common sulfone is sulfolane C₄H₈SO₂.

See also Category: sulfur compounds and organosulfur chemistry

Applications

One of the direct uses of sulfur is in vulcanization of rubber, where polysulfides crosslink organic polymers. Organosulfur compounds are Organic compounds that contain Sulfur (sulphur Vulcanization (or Vulcanisation refers to a specific curing process of Rubber involving high heat and the addition of Sulfur or other equivalent curatives Polysulfides are a class of Chemical compounds containing chains of Sulfur atoms Sulfur is a component of gunpowder. Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes It reacts directly with methane to give carbon disulfide, which is used to manufacture cellophane and rayon. Cellophane is a thin transparent sheet made of regenerated Cellulose. Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulosic Fiber. Rayon is produced from naturally occurring Polymers and therefore it is not a truly ^[13]

Elemental sulfur is mainly used as a precursor to other chemicals. Approximately 85% (1989) is converted to sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), which is of such prime importance to the world's economies that the production and consumption of sulfuric acid is an indicator of a nation's industrial development. Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the The world economy can be evaluated in various ways depending on the model used and this valuation can then be represented in various ways (for example in 2006 US dollars) [3]. For example, more sulfuric acid is produced in the United States every year than any other industrial chemical. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The principal use for the acid is the extraction of phosphate ores for the production of fertilizer manufacturing. Other applications of sulfuric acid include oil refining, wastewater processing, and mineral extraction. ^[13]

Sulfur compounds are also used in detergents, fungicides, dyestuffs, and agrichemicals. A detergent (as a noun is a material intended to assist Cleaning. Fungicides are Chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied In silver-based photography sodium and ammonium thiosulfate are used as "fixing agents. Photography (fә'tɒgrәfi or fә'tɑːgrәfi (from Greek φωτο and γραφία is the process and Art of recording pictures by means of capturing Sodium thiosulfate ( Na 2 S 2 O 3 is a colorless Crystalline compound that is more familiar as the Pentahydrate "

Sulfur is an ingredient in some acne treatments.

An increasing application is as fertilizer. Standard sulfur is hydrophobic and therefore has to be covered with a surfactant by bacteria in the ground before it can be oxidized to sulfate. This makes it a slow release fertilizer, which cannot be taken up by the plants instantly, but has to be oxidized to sulfate over the growth season. Biologically produced sulfur particles are naturally hydrophilic due to a biopolymer coating. This sulfur is therefore easier to disperse over the land (via spraying as a diluted slurry), and results in a faster release.

Sulfites, derived from burning sulfur, are heavily used to bleach paper. Sulfites (also sulphites) are compounds that contain the sulfite Ion S[[oxygen O]]32− A bleach is a Chemical that removes color or whitens often via Oxidation. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging They are also used as preservatives in dried fruit. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology.

Magnesium sulfate, better known as Epsom salts, can be used as a laxative, a bath additive, an exfoliant, a magnesium supplement for plants, or a desiccant. Magnesium sulfate is a Chemical compound containing Magnesium and Sulfate, with the formula MgSO4 Magnesium sulfate is a Chemical compound containing Magnesium and Sulfate, with the formula MgSO4 Laxatives (or purgatives) are foods compounds or drugs taken to induce bowel movements or to loosen the stool most often taken to treat Constipation. Exfoliation involves the removal of the oldest dead Skin cells on the skin's outermost surface and has been used for many years to help maintain the skin Magnesium (mægˈniːziəm is a Chemical element with the symbol Mg, Atomic number 12 Atomic weight 24 A Desiccant is a Hygroscopic substance that induces or sustains a state of dryness ( Desiccation) in its local vicinity in a moderately-well sealed container

Specialized applications

Sulfur is used as a light-generating medium in the rare lighting fixtures known as sulfur lamps. The sulfur lamp (also sulphur lamp) is a highly efficient Full-spectrum Electrodeless lighting system whose light is generated by Sulfur

Historical applications

In the late 18th century, furniture makers used molten sulfur to produce decorative inlays in their craft. Furniture is the Mass noun for the movable objects which may support the human body (seating furniture and beds, provide storage or hold objects on horizontal Inlay is a decorative technique of inserting pieces of coloured materials into depressions in a base object to form patterns or pictures Because of the sulfur dioxide produced during the process of melting sulfur, the craft of sulfur inlays was soon abandoned. Molten sulfur is sometimes still used for setting steel bolts into drilled concrete holes where high shock resistance is desired for floor-mounted equipment attachment points. Pure powdered sulfur was also used as a medicinal tonic and laxative. Sulfur was also used in baths for people who had fits.

Fungicide

Sulfur is the only fungicide used in organically farmed apple production against the main disease apple scab under colder conditions. Sulfur is also a major fungicide in conventional culture of grapes, strawberry, many vegetables and several other crops. It has a good efficacy against a wide range of powdery mildew diseases. Sulfur is one of the oldest pesticides used in agriculture. In organic production sulfur is the most important fungicide used. Biosulfur (biologically produced elemental sulfur with hydrophillic characteristics) can be used well for these applications.

Biological role

Main article: Sulfur assimilation

See sulfur cycle for more on the inorganic and organic natural transformations of sulfur. Sulfur is an essential element for growth and Physiological functioning of Plants however its content strongly varies between plant Species Sulfur is one of the constituents of many Proteins Vitamins and Hormones It recycles as in other Biogeochemical cycles The essential

Sulfur is an essential component of all living cells. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called

Inorganic sulfur forms a part of iron-sulfur clusters, and sulfur is the bridging ligand in the Cu_A site of cytochrome c oxidase, a basic substance involved in utilization of oxygen by all aerobic life. For biological Fe-S clusters see Iron-sulfur proteins Iron-sulfur clusters are ensembles of Iron and Sulfide centres Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 The Enzyme cytochrome c oxidase or Complex IV () is a large Transmembrane protein complex found in Bacteria and the Mitochondrion

Sulfur may also serve as chemical food source for some primitive organisms: some forms of bacteria use hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) in the place of water as the electron donor in a primitive photosynthesis-like process in which oxygen is the electron receptor. The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. The electron is a fundamental Subatomic particle that was identified and assigned the negative charge in 1897 by J Photosynthesis is a Metabolic pathway that converts Light Energy into Chemical energy. The photosynthetic green and purple sulfur bacteria and some chemolithotrophs use elemental oxygen to carry out such oxidization of hydrogen sulfide to produce elemental sulfur (S^o), oxidation state = 0. Photosynthesis is a Metabolic pathway that converts Light Energy into Chemical energy. The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have A lithotroph is an Organism that uses an Inorganic substrate (usually of mineral origin to obtain reducing equivalents for use in biosynthesis (e Primitive bacteria which live around deep ocean volcanic vents oxidize hydrogen sulfide in this way with oxygen: see giant tube worm for an example of large organisms (via bacteria) making metabolic use of hydrogen sulfide as food to be oxidized. Giant tube worms, Riftia pachyptila, are marine Invertebrates in the phylum Annelida ref> (formerly grouped in phylum Pogonophora

The so-called sulfur bacteria, by contrast, "breathe sulfate" instead of oxygen. Sulfate-reducing bacteria comprise several groups of bacteria that use Sulfate as an oxidizing agent reducing it to Sulfide. They use sulfur as the electron acceptor, and reduce various oxidized sulfur compounds back into sulfide-- often into hydrogen sulfide. They also can grow on a number of other partially oxidized sulfur compounds (e. g. thiosulfate, thionates, polysulfides, sulfite). These bacteria are responsible for the rotten egg smell of some intestinal gases and decomposition products.

Sulfur is a part of many bacterial defense molecules. For example, though sulfur is not a part of the lactam ring, it is a part of most beta lactam antibiotics, including the penicillins, cephalosporins, and monobactams. A lactam (the noun is a Portmanteau of the words Lactone + Amide) is a cyclic Amide. ||-||-||-||-||-||-||}A beta-lactam ring ( β -lactam or penam is a Lactam with a Heteroatomic Ring structure, consisting of three Penicillin (sometimes abbreviated PCN or pen) is a group of Beta-lactam antibiotics used in the treatment of Bacterial Infections The cephalosporins (ˌsɛfələˈspɔrən/ /ˌkɛfə- are a class of β-lactam antibiotics. Monobactams are Beta-lactam antibiotics wherein the beta-lactam ring is alone and not fused to another ring (in contrast to most other beta-lactams which have at least

Sulfur is absorbed by plants via the roots from soil as the sulfate ion and reduced to sulfide before it is incorporated into cysteine and other organic sulfur compounds (see sulfur assimilation for details of this process). Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. ROOT is an object-oriented program and library developed by CERN. An ion is an Atom or Molecule which has lost or gained one or more Valence electrons giving it a positive or negative electrical charge Not to be confused with Cystine, its oxidized dimer Cysteine (abbreviated as Cys or C) is an α- Amino acid with Sulfur is an essential element for growth and Physiological functioning of Plants however its content strongly varies between plant Species

Sulfur is regarded as secondary nutrient although plant requirements for sulfur are equal to and sometimes exceed those for phosphorus. However sulfur is recognized as one of the major nutrients essential for plant growth, root nodule formation of legumes and plants protection mechanisms. Sulfur deficiency has become widespread in many countries in Europe. Because atmospheric inputs of sulfur will continue to decrease, the deficit in the sulfur input/output is likely to increase, unless sulfur fertilizers are used.

In plants and animals the amino acids cysteine and methionine contain sulfur, as do all polypeptides, proteins, and enzymes which contain these amino acids. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. In Chemistry, an amino acid is a Molecule containing both Amine and Carboxyl Functional groups In Biochemistry, this Not to be confused with Cystine, its oxidized dimer Cysteine (abbreviated as Cys or C) is an α- Amino acid with Methionine ( abbreviated as Met or M) is an α- Amino acid with the Chemical formula HO2CCH(NH2CH2CH2SCH3 Peptides (from the Greek πεπτίδια, "small digestibles" are short Polymers formed from the linking in a defined order of α- Amino Proteins are large Organic compounds made of Amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined together by Peptide bonds between the Carboxyl Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins Homocysteine and taurine are other sulfur-containing acids which are similar in structure, but which are not coded for by DNA, and are not part of the primary structure of proteins. Homocysteine is a Chemical compound with the formula HSCH2CH2CH(NH2CO2H Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an Organic acid. It is also a major constituent of Bile and can be found in the lower intestine and in small Deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA) is a Nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known In Biochemistry, the primary structure of a biological molecule is the exact specification of its atomic composition and the chemical bonds connecting those atoms (including Glutathione is an important sulfur-containing tripeptide which plays a role in cells as a source of chemical reduction potential in the cell, through its sulfhydryl (-SH) moiety. Glutathione ( GSH) is a Tripeptide. It contains an unusual Peptide linkage between the amine group of Cysteine and the Carboxyl Many important cellular enzymes use prosthetic groups ending with -SH moieties to handle reactions involving acyl-containing biochemicals: two common examples from basic metabolism are coenzyme A and alpha-lipoic acid. Coenzyme A ( CoA, CoASH, or HSCoA) is a Coenzyme, notable for its role in the synthesis and oxidation of Fatty acids Lipoic acid is an Organic compound, one Enantiomer of which is an essential cofactor for many enzyme complexes

Disulfide bonds (S-S bonds) formed between cysteine residues in peptide chains are very important in protein assembly and structure. In Chemistry, a disulfide bond is a single Covalent bond derived from the coupling of Thiol groups These strong covalent bonds between peptide chains give proteins a great deal of extra toughness and resiliency. For example, the high strength of feathers and hair is in part due to their high content of S-S bonds and their high content of cysteine and sulfur (eggs are high in sulfur because large amounts of the element are necessary for feather formation). The high disulfide content of hair and feathers contributes to their indigestibility, and also their odor when burned.

Traditional medical role for elemental sulfur

In traditional medical skin treatment which predates modern era of scientific medicine, elemental sulfur has been used mainly as part of creams to alleviate various conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne. The mechanism of action is not known, although elemental sulfur does oxidize slowly to sulfurous acid, which in turn (though the action of sulfite) acts as a mild reducing and antibacterial agent. Sulfites (also sulphites) are compounds that contain the sulfite Ion S[[oxygen O]]32−

Precautions

Carbon disulfide, carbon oxysulfide, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide should all be handled with care.

Although sulfur dioxide is sufficiently safe to be used as a food additive in small amounts, at high concentrations it reacts with moisture to form sulfurous acid which in sufficient quantities may harm the lungs, eyes or other tissues. Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavour or improve its taste and appearance Sulfurous acid is the Chemical compound with the formula H2SO3 lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive Eyes are organs that detect Light, and send signals along the Optic nerve to the visual areas of the brain Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism In organisms without lungs such as insects or plants, it otherwise prevents respiration. In Animal physiology, respiration is the transport of Oxygen from the outside air to the cells within tissues and the transport of Carbon dioxide

Hydrogen sulfide is toxic. Hydrogen sulfide (or hydrogen sulphide) is the Chemical compound with the formula H 2 S. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism Although very pungent at first, it quickly deadens the sense of smell, so potential victims may be unaware of its presence until death or other symptoms occur.

Environmental impact

The burning of coal and/or petroleum by industry and power plants generates sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which reacts with atmospheric water and oxygen to produce sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit A power station (also referred to as generating station, power plant or powerhouse) is an industrial facility for the generation of Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Sulfuric (or sulphuric acid, H 2 S[[oxygen O]]4 is a strong Mineral acid. This sulfuric acid is a component of acid rain, which lowers the pH of soil and freshwater bodies, sometimes resulting in substantial damage to the environment and chemical weathering of statues and structures. Acid rain is Rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually Acidic It has harmful effects on plants aquatic animals and infastructure pH is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a Solution. Soil, often typeset as SOiL, is a four piece rock band from Chicago Illinois United States founded by Shaun Glass Tom Schofield Tim King and Adam Zadel See also Natural environment The '''biophysical''' environment is the symbiosis between the physical environment and the Biological Weathering is the decomposition of earth rocks, Soils and their Minerals through direct contact with the planet's Atmosphere. Fuel standards increasingly require sulfur to be extracted from fossil fuels to prevent the formation of acid rain. Fossil fuels or mineral fuels are fossil source Fuels that is Hydrocarbons found within the top layer of the Earth’s crust. This extracted sulfur is then refined and represents a large portion of sulfur production. In coal fired power plants, the flue gases are sometimes purified. In more modern power plants that use syngas the sulfur is extracted before the gas is burned. Syngas (from syn thesis gas) is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen.

See also

• Sulfur cycle
• Disulfide bond
• Sulfonium S⁺, S⁺R₃
• Ultra-low sulfur diesel
• Claus process
• Shell-Paques sulfide removal/sulfur recovery process

References

External links

• Sulfur phase diagram
• WebElements.com – Sulfur
• chemicalelements.com/sulfur
• Crystalline, liquid and polymerization of sulphur on Vulcano Island, Italy
• Sulfur and its use as a pesticide
• Basic Information www. chemicalelements. com

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