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Compare Phosphorus vs Sulfur

Comparing Phosphorus (P) and Sulfur (S). Atomic numbers 15 and 16 with atomic masses 30.974 u and 32.059 u, classified as nonmetal and nonmetal. Below: a side-by-side comparison of their physical, atomic, electron-configuration and historical properties, including density, melting and boiling points, ionization energies, oxidation states and discovery history.

vs
P
Phosphorus
#15
S
Sulfur
#16

Periodic properties of the elements

PhosphorusSulfur
SymbolPS
Atomic number1516
Group1516
Period33
Blockpp
Element categoryNonmetalNonmetal

Physical properties

PhosphorusSulfur
Phase at STPSolidSolid
Density1.823 g/cm32.07 g/cm3
Atomic weight30.9738 u32.059 u
Melting point-388.36 K
115.21 °C
239.378 °F
Boiling point-717.8 K
444.65 °C
832.37 °F

Atomic properties

PhosphorusSulfur
Electronegativity (Pauling Scale)2.192.58
Electron affinity72.037 kJ/mol200.41 kJ/mol
Oxidation states−3, −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5
(a mildly acidic oxide)		−2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6
(a strongly acidic oxide)
Ionization energies
  1. 1011.8 kJ/mol
  2. 1907 kJ/mol
  3. 2914.1 kJ/mol
  4. 4963.6 kJ/mol
  5. 6273.9 kJ/mol
  6. 21267 kJ/mol
  7. 25431 kJ/mol
  8. 29872 kJ/mol
  9. 35905 kJ/mol
  10. 40950 kJ/mol
  11. 46261 kJ/mol
  12. 54110 kJ/mol
  13. 59024 kJ/mol
  14. 271791 kJ/mol
  15. 296195 kJ/mol
  1. 999.6 kJ/mol
  2. 2252 kJ/mol
  3. 3357 kJ/mol
  4. 4556 kJ/mol
  5. 7004.3 kJ/mol
  6. 8495.8 kJ/mol
  7. 27107 kJ/mol
  8. 31719 kJ/mol
  9. 36621 kJ/mol
  10. 43177 kJ/mol
  11. 48710 kJ/mol
  12. 54460 kJ/mol
  13. 62930 kJ/mol
  14. 68216 kJ/mol
  15. 311048 kJ/mol
  16. 337138 kJ/mol

Electron configuration

PhosphorusSulfur
Shorthand configuration[Ne] 3s2 3p3 [Ne] 3s2 3p4
Full configuration1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p3 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
Electrons per shell2, 8, 52, 8, 6

History

PhosphorusSulfur
DiscoveryHennig Brand (1669)Middle East (2000 BC)
First isolationHennig Brand (1669)
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