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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Sulfur – S

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Sulfur is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Sulfur. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Sulfur Menu

• Sulfur Page One
  • Overview of Sulfur
  • Sulfur's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Sulfur
  • Chemical Properties of Sulfur
  • Physical Properties of Sulfur
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Sulfur Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Sulfur Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Sulfur

Overview of Sulfur

• Atomic Number:16
• Group: 16
• Period: 3
• Series: Nonmetals

Sulfur's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Sulphur
• Czech: Síra
• Croatian: Sumpor
• French: Soufre
• German: Schwefel - e
• Italian: Solfo
• Norwegian: Svovel
• Portuguese: Enxôfre
• Russian:
• Spanish: Azufre
• Swedish: Svavel

Atomic Structure of Sulfur

• Atomic Radius: 1.09Å
• Atomic Volume: 15.5cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.02Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) _a/barns: 0.53
• Crystal Structure: Orthorhombic

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p⁴

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,6

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.37Å
• Filling Orbital: 3p⁴
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 16
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 16
• Number of Protons: 16
• Oxidation States: ±2,4,6
• Valence Electrons: 3s²p⁴

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Sulfur

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 0.299g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function:
• Electronegativity: 2.58 (Pauling); 2.44 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 1.7175kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 10.36
  • Second: 23.33
  • Third: 34.83
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 160

Physical Properties of Sulfur

• Atomic Mass Average: 32.066
• Boiling Point: 717.9K 444.75°C 832.55°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 74.33E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 5.0E^-24 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 0.00269 W/cmK

• Density: 2.07g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Solid pale yellow non-metal that is stable in air and water but burns if heated.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 7.7/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 278.7 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 1.72 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 9.62 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class:
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Mohs: 2
• Heat of Vaporization: kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 388.51K 115.36°C 239.65°F
  
• Molar Volume: 15.5 cm³/mole
• Optical Refractive Index: 1.001111
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.71J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 2.65E-20Pa@115.36°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7704-34-9
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • No limits set by OSHA
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • No limits set by OSHA
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • No limits set by NIOSH
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 1800
  • Bone/p.p.m: 500-2400
  • Liver/p.p.m: 7000-12000
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 5000-11000
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 850-930 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 140 g
• Discovery Year: Unknown
• Name Origin:

  Latin: sulphurium (brimstone), Sanskrit sulvere

• Abundance of Sulfur:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 260
  • Seawater/p.p.m.: 870
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 1.6E+07
• Sources of Sulfur:

  Found in pure form and in ores like cinnabar, galena, sphalerite and stibnite. Also recovered from H₂S of natural gas. Annual world production is around 54,000,000 tons. Primary mining areas are USA and Spain.

• Uses of Sulfur:

  Used in matches, gunpowder, fireworks, batteries, vulcanization of rubber, medicines, permanent wave lotion and pesticides. Also for making sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).

• Additional Notes:

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Sulfur Menu

• Sulfur Page One
  • Overview of Sulfur
  • Sulfur's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Sulfur
  • Chemical Properties of Sulfur
  • Physical Properties of Sulfur
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Sulfur Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Sulfur Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Sulfur

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
  Answers many questions regarding the structure of atoms.
• Molarity, Molality and Normality
  Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.
• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Sulfur – S. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2009. Accessed on-line: 7/3/2009
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/S.html
.