Sulfur - It's Not just a Magazine
A chunk of sulfur, also known as brimstone.
Sulfur is a yellow non-metal that has been known throughout history. The name comes from the Latin "sulpur", which means Burning Stone. Due to its combustibility, the term was used almost synonymously with "fire". In pre-Roman times, burned sulphur was used for medicinal purposes, and the fumes were used as incense and bleaching agents. The Greeks and Romans discovered sulphur's uses as a pyrotechnic instrument, and created the fireworks associated with the Roman circus.
Just the Facts, Ma'am
Atomic Number: 16
Atomic Mass: 32.064 amu
Ground State Electron Configuration: 2s 2s2 6p2 2s3 4p3
Tell Me Honestly, How do I Look?
(Physical Properties)
Appearance: Pale yellow, odorless, brittle solid
Melting Point: 115.21º C
Boiling Point: 444.674º C
Density: 1.96 g/mL
Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic
Electronegativity: 2.58
Insoluble in Water
Common Isotopes
Sulfur has 10 isotopes. Of those 10, 4 are natural and non-radioactive (S32, S33, S34, and S36). 6 are artificial and radioactive (S29, S30, S31, S35, S37, S38).
What is My Motivation Here, People?
(Major Uses)
FIREWORKS!!!!!
Fungicides
Phosphatic Fertilizers
Black gunpowder
Source of Sulfuric Acid
Vulcanization of Rubber
This Mercedes tire was made from rubber vulcanized with sulfur
So now you're saying "Wow! Sulfur is sooo cool! Where can I get it?" Never fear, I won't leave you hanging.
Sulfur occurs naturally in volcanoes, meteorites, and hot springs (that's the reason for the rotten egg smell).
It is naturally distributed as iron pyrite (also known as fool's gold), cinnabar, gypsum, epsom salts (ahh, my aching feet!), etc. It is also found in natural gas and crude petroleum. Only recently have oil companies devised the Claus method of extracting the sulfur from their products without destroying it. Sulfur is currently being recovered from wells sunk into salt domes in the Gulf of Mexico using the Frasch Process, which sends heated water into the wells via large metal tubes. This then melts the sulfur, which is brought to the surface. To learn more about sulfur recovery, click here.
WARNING!!! (Yea, fine print)
Sulfur is a very toxic element. When sulfur reacts with oxygen it forms a colorless gas, sulfur dioxide (SO2). Sulfur dioxide irritates the lungs and is especially harmful to people with lung disease. In addition, it combines further with oxygen in the air to form sulfur trioxide (SO3), which then combines with water vapor to form sulfuric acid, H2SO4. When sulfuric acid forms in the air, it becomes what we know as acid rain. Sulfuric acid is a very corrosive substance, damaging both living and non-living things. It kills the fish in lakes and attacks limestone buildings. Sulfuric acid also causes severe burns in the skin if it is touched by it.
I Would Like to Thank All The Little People I Stepped On To Get Here...Works Cited
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
Georgia Gulf Sulfur Corporation