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Sulfur

Sulfur is 16th element of Periodic table with atomic number 16, atomic weight 32.065. Sulfur,  symbol ‘S’, has a Simple Triclinic structure and Colorless color. Sulfur is a other nonmetal element. Trivial name of Sulfur is pentels, pnictogens*. Know everything about Sulfur Facts, Physical Properties, Chemical Properties, Electronic configuration, Atomic and Crystal Structure.

History of Sulfur

The element Sulfur was discovered in year 500 BC by Ancient china in unknown place . Sulfur derived its name from the Latin word sulphur, ‘fire and brimstone.

Sulfur is a chemical element with symbol ‘S’ and atomic number 16. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8.

How to Locate Sulfur on Periodic Table

Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 16 to find Sulfur on periodic table.

Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Sulfur on periodic table look for cross section of group 16 and period 3 in the modern periodic table

Sulfur Facts

Name
Sulfur
Atomic Symbol
S
Atomic Number
16
Phase
Solid
Atomic Weight
32.065
Colour
Yellow
Classification
other nonmetal
Group in Periodic Table
16
Group Name
oxygen family
Block in Periodic Table
p-block
Period in Periodic Table
3
Electronic Configuration
[Ne] 3s2 3p4
Melting Point
115.21 °C
Boiling Point
444.72 °C
Electronic Shell Structure
[2, 8, 6]
CAS Number
CAS7704-34-9

Sulfur Atomic Structure and Orbital Properties

Sulfur atoms have 16 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 6] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 3P2.

Element Properties

Atomic Number
16
Number of Protons
16
Mass Number
32
Number of Neutrons
16
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)
[2, 8, 6]
Electron Configuration
[Ne] 3s2 3p4
Valence Electrons
3s2 3p4
Oxidation State
-2;-1 1;2;3;4;5;6
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)

3P2

Atomic Structure of Sulfur

Atomic Radius
88 pm (0.88 Ã…)
Atomic Volume
16.3596938776 cm3
Covalent Radius
102 pm (1.02 Ã…)
Van der Waals Radius
180 pm
Neutron Cross Section
0.52 σa/barns

Crystal Structure of Sulfur

The solid state structure of Sulfur is Face Centered Orthorhombic.

The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.

The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a[1043.7], b[1284.5] and c[2436.9 pm]) and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha[π/2], beta[π/2] and gamma[π/2])

 

The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( xi, yi, zi) measured from a reference lattice point.

The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct

Space Group Name

Space Group Number

Crystal Structure

Fddd

70

Face Centered Orthorhombic

Ground State Electronic Configuration of Sulfur- neutral Sulfur atom

The ground state electronic configuration of Neutral Sulfur atom is [Ne] 3s2 3p4. The portion of Sulfur configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ne]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used.This is important as it is the Valence electrons 3s2 3p4, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.

Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Sulfur

Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Sulfur atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4

Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines

CAS Number
CAS7704-34-9
RTECS Number
{RTECSWS4250000, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A}
EU Number
{N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A}
DOT Hazard Class
{N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A}
DOT Numbers
“N/A”, “N/A”, “N/A”, “N/A”, “N/A”, “N/A”
NFPA Fire Rating
{N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A}
NFPA Hazards
N/ A, N/ A, N/ A, N/ A, N/ A, N/ A
Autoignition Point
N/A
NFPA Health Rating
{N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A}
NFPA Reactivity Rating
{N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A}
Flashpoint
N/A

Sulfur Chemical Properties : Sulfur Ionization Energies and electron affinity

ElectronAffinity
200 kJ/mol
Valence
6
Electronegativity
2.58

Sulfur Physical & Elastic Properties

Density
1.96 g/cm3
Molar Volume
16.3596938776 g/cm3
Young Modulus
N/A
Shear Modulus
N/A
Bulk Modulus
7.7 GPa
Poisson Ratio
N/A

Sulfur Electrical Properties

Electrical Conductivity
1×10-15 S/m
Resistivity
1×1015 m Ω
Superconducting Point
N/A

Sulfur Magnetic Properties

Magnetic Type
Diamagnetic
Curie Point
N/A
Mass Magnetic Susceptibility
-6.2×10-9
Molar Magnetic Susceptibility
-1.99×10-10
Volume Magnetic Susceptibility
-1.22e-05

Sulfur Thermal Properties

Magnetic Type
388.36 K (115.21 °C)
Boiling Point
717.87 K (444.72 °C)
Critical Temperature
1314 K
Superconducting Point
N/A

Use of Sulfur

The normal forms of Sulfur is yellow crystals or powder. Sulfur is used in the vulcanisation of black rubber, as a fungicide and in black gunpowder. Most sulfur is used in the production of sulfuric acid, which is perhaps the most important chemical.

106. Seaborgium [Sg]