Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the universe. It is odorless, it is a tasteless, plastic solid of bright yellow color. This is a reactive element, which, under favorable conditions, combines with all other elements except gases, gold and platinum. The metallic luster of sulfur is present in some sulfur compounds, but not in its pure form. Sulfur appears in various allotropic modifications, each of which differs in solubility, specific gravity, crystalline arrangement and other physical constants. When exposed to pure oxygen, blue burning occurs, forming sulfur oxide.
Does sulfur have a metallic sheen?
Gloss is the ability of a substance to reflect light rays. This property is directly dependent on the specificity of chemical bonds in the mineral, its form and type. The metallic luster of sulfur is best seen on the relatively fresh cleavage of a particular specimen, of which it is a part. In its natural form, sulfur appears as a yellowish powder. When it is part of sulfides and sulfates, many minerals can form, some of them are valuable ores and a source for non-ferrous metals. Sulfides — pyrite, antimonite, galena, chalcosine, chalcopyrite — have a metallic luster for sulfur.
general information
Sulfur belongs to the chalcogen group of elements, which also include oxygen, selenium, tellurium and polonium. The term "chalcogen" comes from two Greek words meaning "ore-forming." Ore is a natural mineral that is used as a source for an element. Many ores are compounds of metal and oxygen or metal and sulfur. Compounds containing at least two elements, one of which is sulfur, are called sulfides. For example, pyrite - a mineral that has a beautiful golden color and metallic luster, is iron sulfide. It is also known as "fools gold." The physical and chemical characteristic properties of sulfur were known in antiquity. Often it is a brilliant yellow powder. When it burns, it produces a clear blue flame and a very strong suffocating odor.
Sulfur: physical and chemical properties
The physical properties of sulfur are characteristics that can be observed using the senses. These include color, gloss, freezing, melting and boiling points, density, hardness and smell. What are the physical characteristics of sulfur? The substance has a pale yellow color, tasteless and odorless, insoluble in water. It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity. The metallic luster of sulfur can only be observed in certain compounds. The boiling point is 444.6 ° C. Upon melting, sulfur turns into a flowing yellow liquid, which acquires a brownish tint and becomes a viscous dark brown mass at a temperature of about 190 ° C. Viscosity decreases with increasing degree (over 190 ° ), and at 300 ° sulfur again becomes liquid.
What are the chemical properties of sulfur?
These are characteristics that determine how it will react with other substances or when moving from one compound to another. The better we know the nature of this substance, the better we are able to understand it. Chemical properties can only be seen during chemical reactions that can be caused by changes during combustion, rust, heating, blasting, tarnishing, and so on. The following sulfur compounds are known: sodium sulfite, hydrogen sulfide (a poisonous gas that smells like rotten eggs) and sulfuric acid. Reactivity is quite high, especially with increasing temperature. When heated, it actively reacts with metals, forming the corresponding sulfides.
Discovery of a very important element
The name of the element is found in biblical Scripture when describing the fall of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, when fire and brimstone were cast from them from heaven. Ancient Greek philosophers believed that everything consists of four elements: earth, fire, water and air. However, there were those who called only two elements: sulfur and mercury. Early thinkers were often puzzled by what they meant by the word "sulfur." For them, it was a substance that burned well and exuded a large amount of smoke. It took centuries for scientists to define this substance as an element. Sulfur exists in two allotropic forms (alpha and beta forms), with various physical and chemical properties. Shine of sulfur is a qualitative characteristic of the light flux, which reflects the mineral in which it is a part. Some opaque minerals have the ability to strongly reflect light and have a specific metallic radiance.
Occurrence in nature
At one time, sulfur deposits were in the surface layers of the Earth. They could be easily found and used by people. Today, this is more complicated, since the natural locations of sulfur ore are currently located in the immediate vicinity of volcanoes. The substance is released from the craters in the form of gas, which hardens upon meeting with cold air, forming beautiful yellow deposits along the edge of the volcano. Large reserves are still of underground origin. Sulfur is also found in a number of important minerals: barite (barium sulfate), celestine (strontium sulfate), cinnabar (mercury sulfide), galena (lead sulfide), pyrites (iron sulfide), sphalerite (zinc sulfide) and stibnite (antimony sulfide).
Isotopes of sulfur
There are four naturally occurring isotopes: sulfur-32, sulfur-33, sulfur-34 and sulfur-36, differing in mass number. This is the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of an element. The number of protons determines the element, and the number of neutrons in the atom of any element can vary. There are also six radioactive isotopes that decay and emit a specific form of radiation. One of them - sulfur-35 - is used for commercial purposes. In medicine, an isotope is used to study the fluid paths within the body. It also has an application in scientific research as an indicator.
Application
Sulfur is relatively little used as an element. Characteristic sulfur properties include specific melting behavior.
One of the most important uses is curing, the process of adding to rubber to make it tough. Sulfur keeps the rubber from melting when heated. This discovery of Charles Goodyear in 1839 is one of the greatest industrial achievements of our time.
As an insecticide, it can be used to kill insects. However, most are involved in various compounds. The most important of these is sulfuric acid, most of which is used to make fertilizers.
Widespread use was also obtained in the oil industry, the production of paper products, agricultural chemicals, plastics, rubber and other synthetic materials. A vital element is a component of two amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Due to its versatility, it is used in the pharmaceutical, medical and industrial sectors; in gaseous form, the substance is used as a bleaching agent, solvent and disinfectant.