sulfur
Sign in to saveSulfur (American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur (Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with the chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow, crystalline solid at room temperature.
AI overview
Sulfur is a chemical element (symbol S) that is abundant, nonmetallic, and appears as a bright yellow crystalline solid at room temperature, typically existing as eight-atom ring-shaped molecules. It matters because of its abundance and ability to form multiple chemical bonds, making it useful in various industrial and scientific applications.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Chemical data
- Formula
- S
- Molecular weight
- 32.07 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- sulfane
via PubChem
Wikidata facts
Show 5 more facts
- P910
- Category:Sulfur
- P1889
- disulfur
Article
38 sectionsContents
- Characteristics
- Physical properties
- Chemical properties
- Allotropes
- Isotopes
- Natural occurrence
- Compounds
- Electron transfer reactions
- Hydrogenation
- Combustion
- Halogenation
- Pseudohalides
- Metal sulfides
- Organic compounds
- History
- Antiquity
- Modern times
- Spelling and etymology
- Production
- Applications
- Sulfuric acid
- Other important sulfur chemistry
- Fertilizer
- Pharmaceuticals
- Batteries
- Biological role
- Transferring sulfur between inorganic and biomolecules
- Protein and organic metabolites
- Metalloproteins and inorganic cofactors
- Sulfate
- Deficiency
- Precautions
- Toxicity of sulfur compounds
- Notes
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Sulfur (American spelling and the preferred IUPAC name) or sulphur (Commonwealth spelling) is a chemical element; it has symbol S and atomic number 16. It is abundant, multivalent and nonmetallic. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with the chemical formula S8. Elemental sulfur is a bright yellow, crystalline solid at room temperature.
Sulfur is the tenth most abundant element by mass in the universe and the fifth most common on Earth. Though sometimes found in pure, native form, sulfur on Earth usually occurs as sulfide and sulfate minerals. Being abundant in native form, sulfur was known in ancient times, being mentioned for its uses in ancient India, ancient Greece, China, and ancient Egypt. Historically and in literature sulfur is also called brimstone, which means "burning stone". Almost all elemental sulfur is produced as a byproduct of removing sulfur-containing contaminants from natural gas and petroleum. The greatest commercial use of the element is the production of sulfuric acid for sulfate and phosphate fertilizers, and other chemical processes. Sulfur is used in matches, insecticides, and fungicides. Many sulfur compounds are odoriferous, and the smells of odorized natural gas, skunk scent, bad breath, grapefruit, and garlic are due to organosulfur compounds. Hydrogen sulfide gives the characteristic odor to rotting eggs and other biological processes.