Sulfur

__Sulfur__ by Seth G. & Nolan M.

 * = __Name__ ||= Sulfer ||
 * = __Symbol__ ||= S ||
 * = Atomic Number ||= 16 ||
 * = __Atomic Mass__ ||= 32.065 ||
 * = __Period__ ||= 3 ||
 * = __Group__ ||= 16 ||
 * = __State at room temperature__ ||= Solid ||
 * = __Element Classification__ ||= Nonmetals ||

=Area 2 (history) =

The word sulphur is Latin for "burning stone", and was used almost interchangeably with the term for fire. Because of its combustibility, sulphur was used for a variety of purposes at least 4,000 years ago. Sulphur was used by pagan priests 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. Pre-Roman civilizations used burned brimstone as a medicine and used "bricks" of sulphur as fumigants, bleaching agents, and incense in religious rites. Pliny (23-27 A.D.) Reported that sulphur was a "most singular kind of earth and an agent of great power on other substances," and had "medicinal [sic] virtues." The Greeks and Romans discovered that sulphur could be utilized to make fire and the pyrotechnical displays associated with the Roman circus. The Romans also experimented with using sulphur with tar, rosin, bitumen, and other combustibles. Their work resulted in the production of incendiary weapons, but this ability disappeared with the decline of the Roman Empire.

From a rather meager beginning, sulphur has become one of the basic materials of industrial production. In the United States, more than 12 million long tons are consumed annually - the equivalent of over 120 pounds per person is employed in the manufacture of more than 30,000 items. Sulphur is used to make gunpowder, matches, phosphate, insecticides, fungicides, and medicine, and in vulcanizing rubber and impregnating wood and paper products. But 90% of sulfur is converted to sulphuric acid.

=**Area 3 (Physical Properties)**=

=Area 4 (Element uses)=
 * Chemical Formula:** S8
 * Physical State:** Solid
 * Number of Isotopes:** 18
 * Stable Isotopes:** 3
 * CAS Number:** 7704-34-9
 * Appearance:** Yellow colored lumps, crystals, powder, or formed shape
 * Odor:** Odorless, or faint odor of rotten eggs if not 100% pure
 * Purity:** 90% - 100%
 * Formula:** S8 (Rhombic or monoclinic)
 * Molecular Weight (G):** 256.50
 * Vapor Density (Air = 1 ):** 1.1
 * Vapor Pressure:** 0mmHG at 280OF
 * Solubility In Water:** Insoluble
 * Specific Gravity:** 2.07 @ 70oF
 * Boiling Point:** 832oF (444oC)
 * Freezing/Melting Point:** 230-246oF (110-119oC)
 * Bulk Density:** Lumps 75-115 lbs./ft3 Powder 33-80 lbs./ft3
 * Flashpoint:** 405OF (207.2oC)
 * Auto-ignition Temperature:** 478-511oF (248-266oC)

Sulfur is the only fungicide used in organically farmed apple production against the main disease apple scab under colder conditions. Sulfur is also a major fungicide in conventional culture of grapes, strawberry, many vegetables and several other crops. It has a good efficacy against a wide range of powdery mildew diseases as well as black spot. Sulfur is one of the oldest pesticides used in agriculture. In organic production sulfur is the most important fungicide used. Biosulfur (biologically produced elemental sulfur with hydrophillic characteristics) can be used well for these applications.Wettable sulfur is the commercial name for sulfur which has been altered to be water-soluble. It is used as a fungicide against mildew and other mold related problems with plants and soil. Available in hydroponic and gardening stores.
 * Fungicide**

Sulfur is a component of gunpowder. It is used in the vulcanization of rubber. Sulfur has applications as a fungicide(above), fumigant, and in the making of fertilizers. It is used to make sulfuric acid. Sulfur is used in the making of several types of paper and as a bleaching agent. Elemental sulfur is used as an electrical insulator. The organic compounds of sulfur have many uses. Sulfur is an element that is essential for life. However, sulfur compounds can be highly toxic. For example, small amounts of hydrogen sulfide can be metabolized, but higher concentrations can quickly cause death from respiratory paralysis. Hydrogen sulfide quickly deadens the sense of smell. Sulfur dioxide is an important atmospheric pollutant. =**Area 5 (Other information)**=

You can buy about 53.2 lbs of sulfur for $100. There are 4 stable isotopes of sulfur and 25 known total.

symbol ||~ Z(p) ||~ N(n) ||~ isotopic mass (u) ||~ half-life ||~ nuclear spin ||~ representative isotopic composition (mole fraction) ||~ range of natural variation (mole fraction) ||
 * ~ nuclide
 * ^  ||||||~ excitation energy ||
 * 26S ||> 16 ||> 10 || 26.02788(32)# || 10# ms || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 27S ||> 16 ||> 11 || 27.01883(22)# || 15.5(15) ms || (5/2+) ||  ||   ||
 * 28S ||> 16 ||> 12 || 28.00437(17) || 125(10) ms || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 29S ||> 16 ||> 13 || 28.99661(5) || 187(4) ms || 5/2+ ||  ||   ||
 * 30S ||> 16 ||> 14 || 29.984903(3) || 1.178(5) s || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 31S ||> 16 ||> 15 || 30.9795547(16) || 2.572(13) s || 1/2+ ||  ||   ||
 * 32S ||> 16 ||> 16 || 31.97207100(15) || STABLE || 0+ || 0.9493(31) || 0.94454-0.95281 ||
 * 33S ||> 16 ||> 17 || 32.97145876(15) || STABLE || 3/2+ || 0.0076(2) || 0.00730-0.00793 ||
 * 34S ||> 16 ||> 18 || 33.96786690(12) || STABLE || 0+ || 0.0429(28) || 0.03976-0.04734 ||
 * 35S ||> 16 ||> 19 || 34.96903216(11) || 87.51(12) d || 3/2+ ||  ||   ||
 * 36S ||> 16 ||> 20 || 35.96708076(20) || STABLE || 0+ || 0.0002(1) || 0.00013-0.00027 ||
 * 37S ||> 16 ||> 21 || 36.97112557(21) || 5.05(2) min || 7/2- ||  ||   ||
 * 38S ||> 16 ||> 22 || 37.971163(8) || 170.3(7) min || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 39S ||> 16 ||> 23 || 38.97513(5) || 11.5(5) s || (3/2,5/2,7/2)- ||  ||   ||
 * 40S ||> 16 ||> 24 || 39.97545(15) || 8.8(22) s || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 41S ||> 16 ||> 25 || 40.97958(13) || 1.99(5) s || (7/2-)# ||  ||   ||
 * 42S ||> 16 ||> 26 || 41.98102(13) || 1.013(15) s || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 43S ||> 16 ||> 27 || 42.98715(22) || 260(15) ms || 3/2-# ||  ||   ||
 * 43mS |||||| 319(5) keV || 480(50) ns || (7/2-) ||  ||   ||
 * 44S ||> 16 ||> 28 || 43.99021(42) || 100(1) ms || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 45S ||> 16 ||> 29 || 44.99651(187) || 68(2) ms || 3/2-# ||  ||   ||
 * 46S ||> 16 ||> 30 || 46.00075(75)# || 50(8) ms || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 47S ||> 16 ||> 31 || 47.00859(86)# || 20# ms [>200 ns] || 3/2-# ||  ||   ||
 * 48S ||> 16 ||> 32 || 48.01417(97)# || 10# ms [>200 ns] || 0+ ||  ||   ||
 * 49S ||> 16 ||> 33 || 49.02362(102)# || <200 ns || 3/2-# ||  ||

=**Sulfur Video**=

We have two different videos on sulfur. The second is about Heating and Combusting of Sulfur. media type="youtube" key="pmw7JfsNzoY" height="344" width="425"media type="custom" key="3062324" =**Useful sites**=

http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/S.html http://webmineral.com/data/Sulfur.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur