Sulfur
Sulfur (硫, symbol S) is chemical element number 16, a Reactive Nonmetal in period 3, group 16 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 32.06. Bright yellow crystalline solid. Essential amino acid component and industrial chemical feedstock.
Properties
| Atomic number | 16 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | S |
| Atomic mass | 32.06 u |
| Category | Reactive Nonmetal |
| Period | 3 |
| Group | 16 |
| Electron configuration | [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴ |
| Electronegativity | 2.58 |
| Covalent radius | 105 pm |
| Density | 2.067 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 388.36 K |
| Boiling point | 717.87 K |
| Discovery | Known since antiquity |
Overview
Bright yellow crystalline solid. Essential amino acid component and industrial chemical feedstock. Sulfur (symbol S) is chemical element number 16, sitting in period 3, group 16 of the periodic table and classed as a Reactive Nonmetal. As a nonmetal it tends to gain electrons, or to share them with other nonmetals when bonding.
With 6 electrons in its outermost shell, Sulfur bonds accordingly; full configuration [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴, electronegativity 2.58. At room temperature it is normally a solid; it melts near 388.36 K (115.2 °C), boils near 717.87 K (444.7 °C), has a density around 2.067 g/cm³.
Common applications range across Agriculture / Fertiliser, Catalysis and Medical / Pharma. You can explore S-containing compounds here such as H₂SO₄, CuSO₄ and SO₂. It has been known since antiquity.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 6
Main uses
- Agriculture / Fertiliser
- Catalysis
- Medical / Pharma
Hazard
Compounds containing Sulfur
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.