Sulfur

phosphorus ← sulfur → chlorine O ↑ S ↓ Se 16S Periodic table
Appearance
Lemon yellow crystals.
General
Name, symbol, number	sulfur, S, 16
Element category	nonmetal
Group, period, block	16, 3, p
Standard atomic weight	32.065(5) g/mol
Electron configuration	[Ne] 3s2 3p4
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 6 (Image)
Physical properties
Phase	solid
Density (near r.t.)	(alpha) 2.07 g/cm3
Density (near r.t.)	(beta) 1.96 g/cm3
Density (near r.t.)	(gamma) 1.92 g/cm3
Liquid density at m.p.	1.819 g/cm3
Melting point	388.36 K, 115.21 °C, 239.38 °F
Boiling point	717.8 K, 444.6 °C, 832.3 °F
Critical point	1314 K, 20.7 MPa
Heat of fusion	(mono) 1.727 kJ/mol1
Heat of vaporization	(mono) 45 kJ/mol1
Specific heat capacity	(25 °C) 22.75 J K−1 mol−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
Oxidation states	6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, -1, -2 (strongly acidic oxide)
Electronegativity	2.58 (Pauling scale)
Ionization energies (more)	1st: 999.6 kJ·mol−1
	2nd: 2252 kJ·mol−1
	3rd: 3357 kJ·mol−1
Covalent radius	105±3 pm
Van der Waals radius	180 pm
Miscellaneous
Crystal structure	orthorhombic
Magnetic ordering	diamagnetic
Electrical resistivity	(20 °C) (amorphous) 2×1015Ω·m
Thermal conductivity	(300 K) (amorphous) 0.205 W·m−1·K−1
Bulk modulus	7.7 GPa
Mohs hardness	2.0
CAS registry number	7704-34-9
EC number	231-722-6
Most stable isotopes
Main article: Isotopes of sulfur
iso N.A. half-life DM DE (MeV) DP 32S 95.02% 32S is stable with 16 neutrons 33S 0.75% 33S is stable with 17 neutrons 34S 4.21% 34S is stable with 18 neutrons 35S syn 87.32 d β− 0.167 35Cl 36S 0.02% 36S is stable with 20 neutrons
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Sulfur or sulphur (Template:Pron-en, see spelling below) is the chemical element that has the atomic number 16. It is denoted with the symbol S. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. 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. It is an essential element for life and is found in two amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Its commercial uses are primarily in fertilizers, but it is also widely used in black gunpowder, matches, insecticides and fungicides. Elemental sulfur crystals are commonly sought after by mineral collectors for their brightly colored polyhedron shapes. In nonscientific context it can also be referred to as brimstone.

References

Leslie KS, Millington GWM, Levell NJ. (2004) Sulphur and skin: from Satan to Saddam! J Cosm Dermatol 3: 94-98.

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
• The Sulphur Institute