Symbol: S
Atomic number: 16
Category: nonmetals
Group: 16
Period: 3
Block: p
Atomic weight: 32.065 g/mol
Electrons per shell: 2, 8, 6
CAS number: 7704-34-9
Phase: solid
Density: 2.07 kg/dm3 (near room temperature)
Melting point: 388.36 K (115.21 °C, 239.38 °F)
Boiling point: 717.8 K (444.6 °C, 832.3 °F)
Crystal structure: orthorhombic
Oxidation states: 6, 4, 2, 1, -2
Electronegativity: 2.58 (Pauling scale)
Name's origin: sulpur, sulphur or sulfur
Name's meaning: the Latin word for brimstone, the non- scientific name of the sulfur crystals
Facts:
- is a yellow crystalline solid
- it can be found as the pure element and as sulfide and sulfate minerals
- is an essential element for life and is found in two amino acids, cysteine and methionine
- is used 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
- has only a faint odor, similar to that of matches
- burns with a blue flame that emits sulfur dioxide, notable for its peculiar suffocating odor due to dissolving in the mucosa to form dilute sulfurous acid
- the compound hydrogen sulfide is toxic - although very pungent at first, it quickly deadens the sense of smell, so potential victims may be unaware of its presence until death or other symptoms occur