Week 4a Chemistry - Sulfur
Sulfur (S)
Sulfur's atomic number is 16. Like oxygen, it's a Group 16, p-block element, and also highly reactive (reactive nonmetal). Although elemental sulfur exists, it is mostly found either in a sulfide or sulphate compound, such as pyrite (iron sulfide). S's electron configuration is written 1s22s22p63s23p4.
Octasulfur (S8), sulfur's most common allotrope [eg diamonds and graphite are allotropes of carbon], is a soft, bright-yellow solid that is odorless, but impure samples can smell like matches or rotten eggs.
Sulfur is abundant on Earth and in the universe. It is the tenth most common element in the universe in terms of mass. As such, we've been widely utilizing S since it's discovery over 2000 years ago in ancient China. Sulfur was most famously used in the manufacture of gunpowder, although it had many other important uses as well, including medicinal (Shi Liu Huang described in the Shennong Bencao Jing). The Chinese had an elaborate knowledge of sulfur and green vitriol (iron sulfate) manufacturing processes. This article by Zhang Yunming discusses the history.
Sulfur is used often in other chemical processes in its form as sulfuric acid. S is also used in the agricultural industry in fertilizers as well as pesticides and fungicides. One of the uses of octasulfur is in the pharmaceutical industry as a treatment for acne.
In alchemy, sulfur was known of course but the word Sulfur most often refers to a volatile, combustible principle rather than the element itself. The alchemists were fascinated by sulfur's ability to readily combust in its solid state. If you've never seen the process before, I recommend basking in the beauty here.
Sulfur's atomic number is 16. Like oxygen, it's a Group 16, p-block element, and also highly reactive (reactive nonmetal). Although elemental sulfur exists, it is mostly found either in a sulfide or sulphate compound, such as pyrite (iron sulfide). S's electron configuration is written 1s22s22p63s23p4.
Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow, crystalline solid at room temperature. (Wikipedia)
When burned, sulfur melts to a blood-red liquid and emits a blue flame. (Wikipedia)
Sulfur is abundant on Earth and in the universe. It is the tenth most common element in the universe in terms of mass. As such, we've been widely utilizing S since it's discovery over 2000 years ago in ancient China. Sulfur was most famously used in the manufacture of gunpowder, although it had many other important uses as well, including medicinal (Shi Liu Huang described in the Shennong Bencao Jing). The Chinese had an elaborate knowledge of sulfur and green vitriol (iron sulfate) manufacturing processes. This article by Zhang Yunming discusses the history.
Sulfur is used often in other chemical processes in its form as sulfuric acid. S is also used in the agricultural industry in fertilizers as well as pesticides and fungicides. One of the uses of octasulfur is in the pharmaceutical industry as a treatment for acne.
In alchemy, sulfur was known of course but the word Sulfur most often refers to a volatile, combustible principle rather than the element itself. The alchemists were fascinated by sulfur's ability to readily combust in its solid state. If you've never seen the process before, I recommend basking in the beauty here.
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