16 S Sulfur 32.06 u

Sulfur

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Period
3
Group
16
Block
p-block
Phase (STP)
Solid

Sulfur is a bright yellow nonmetal known since antiquity. It is essential for amino acids and widely used in sulfuric acid production.

Appearance: Lemon yellow

About Sulfur

Bright lemon-yellow and known since antiquity, sulfur is a brittle nonmetal of atomic number 16 and atomic mass 32.06 that melts at 388 K. Six valence electrons ([Ne] 3s2 3p4) give it an electronegativity of 2.58 and a first ionization energy of 1000 kJ/mol. Because it has been recognized for thousands of years, no single discoverer is credited. Sulfur is essential to living things as a component of certain amino acids, and industrially it is the principal raw material for sulfuric acid, one of the most heavily produced chemicals. The element belongs to group 16, period 3, in the same family as oxygen.

Physical Properties

Atomic Mass 32.06 u
Density 2.067 g/cm³
Melting Point 115.2 °C
Boiling Point 444.6 °C
Phase at STP Solid
Atomic Radius 88.0 pm

Electronic Properties

Electronegativity 2.58
Ionization Energy 999.6 eV
Electron Affinity 200.0 eV
Valence Electrons 6

Electron Configuration

Configuration [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴

Electron Shell Configuration

Sulfur electron shell configuration S 2e⁻ 8e⁻ 6e⁻
Electron shell structure of Sulfur — electrons per shell.
Shell Electrons
1 (K) 2
2 (L) 8
3 (M) 6

Position in Periodic Table

Sulfur position in the periodic table S

Discovery

Discovered by: Ancient

Block & Period

Block

s p d f

Period

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Periodic Table

Lanthanides Actinides

Reactions Involving S

Barium Sulfate Precipitation

BaCl₂ + Na₂SO₄ → BaSO₄↓ + 2NaCl

Precipitation

Formation of Sulfur Trioxide

2SO₂ + O₂ → 2SO₃

Synthesis

Lead-Acid Battery Discharge

Pb + PbO₂ + 2H₂SO₄ → 2PbSO₄ + 2H₂O

Electrochemical

Zinc and Copper Sulfate Displacement

Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu

Redox

Zinc Displacing Copper from Copper Sulfate

Zn + CuSO₄ → ZnSO₄ + Cu

Single-Replacement
View all 42 reactions →

Compounds Containing Sulfur

Ammonium Persulfate

(NH₄)₂S₂O₈

Ammonium Sulfate

(NH₄)₂SO₄

Amoxicillin

C₁₆H₁₉N₃O₅S

Barium Sulfate

BaSO₄

Biotin

C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₃S

Bromothymol Blue

C₂₇H₂₈Br₂O₅S

Cadmium Sulfide

CdS

Calcium Sulfate

CaSO₄

Carbon Disulfide

CS₂

Chlorosulfonic Acid

ClSO₃H

Coenzyme A

C₂₁H₃₆N₇O₁₆P₃S

Congo Red

C₃₂H₂₂N₆Na₂O₆S₂

More Nonmetal

1 H Hydrogen 6 C Carbon 7 N Nitrogen 8 O Oxygen 15 P Phosphorus 34 Se Selenium

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Pyrite

Iron sulfide — fool's gold (FeS₂)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sulfur?
Sulfur (S) is a chemical element with atomic number 16. It is a solid at standard temperature and pressure, classified as a nonmetal.
What are the key properties of Sulfur?
Sulfur has an atomic mass of 32.06 u, density of 2.067 g/cm³, melting point of 115.2°C, boiling point of 444.6°C.
What is the electron configuration of Sulfur?
The electron configuration of Sulfur is [Ne] 3s2 3p4. It is in the p-block of the periodic table.
Who discovered Sulfur?
Sulfur was discovered by Ancient.
What is the electronegativity of Sulfur?
Sulfur has an electronegativity of 2.58 on the Pauling scale.