16
S
32.059
Sulfur
Nonmetal
Group 16
Period 3
Block p
Sulfur is a chemical element of the periodic table with chemical symbol S and atomic number 16 with an atomic weight of 32.059 u and is classed as nonmetal and is part of group 16 (oxygen group). Sulfur is solid at room temperature.
Sulfur in the periodic table
| Symbol | S |
| Atomic number | 16 |
| Group | 16 (Oxygen group) |
| Period | 3 |
| Block | p |
| Classification | Nonmetal |
| Appearance | Lemon yellow sintered microcrystals |
| Color | Yellow |
| Number of protons | 16 p+ |
| Number of neutrons | 16 n0 |
| Number of electrons | 16 e- |
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaSulfur or sulphur (see spelling differences) 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.
Physical properties
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Density | 2.07 g/cm3 |
| Atomic weight | 32.059 u |
Thermal properties
| Melting point | 388.36 K 115.21 °C 239.378 °F |
| Boiling point | 717.8 K 444.65 °C 832.37 °F |
| Heat of vaporization | 10 kJ/mol |
Atomic properties
| Electronegativity (Pauling Scale) | 2.58 |
| Electron affinity | 200.41 kJ/mol |
| Oxidation states | −2, −1, 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6 (a strongly acidic oxide) |
| Ionization energies |
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Electron configuration for sulfur
Electron configuration Shorthand configuration | [Ne] 3s2 3p4 | ||||||||||||||
| Full configuration | 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4 | ||||||||||||||
Electron configuration chart |
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| Electrons per shell | 2, 8, 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Valence electrons | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Valency electrons | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Bohr model | Figure: Shell diagram of Sulfur (S) atom. | ||||||||||||||
Orbital Diagram |
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The history of Sulfur
| Discovery | Middle East (2000 BC) |
| Recognized as an element by | Antoine Lavoisier (1777) |
Discovery of sulfur First used at least 4,000 years ago. According to the Ebers Papyrus, a sulfur ointment was used in ancient Egypt to treat granular eyelids. Designated as one of the two elements of which all metals are composed in the sulfur-mercury theory of metals, first described in pseudo-Apollonius of Tyana's Sirr al-khaliqa ('Secret of Creation') and in the works attributed to Jabir ibn Hayyan (both 8th or 9th century). Designated as a univeral element (one of the tria prima) by Paracelsus in the early 16th century. Recognized as an element by Antoine Lavoisier in 1777. | |
| Original word | sulpur |
| Language of origin | Latin |
| Name source | Properties |
| Meaning | “Brimstone” |
Naming The name is derived either from Arabic word ‘sufra’ meaning yellow (which is the color of the naturally occurring form of the element) or from the Sanskrit word sulvere or the Latin word sulfurium, which meaning sulfur or brimstone. | |