Introduction of sulfur

Commonly known as: sulfur

Element symbol: s

Atomic weight of element: 32.066

Element type: nonmetal

Discovery process: ancient humans already knew about natural sulfur. Sulfur is widely distributed.

Physical properties of a single substance:

Usually pale yellow crystals. There are several allotropes of elemental sulfur, and rhombic sulfur (rhombic sulfur) and monoclinic sulfur are the most important crystalline sulfur known at present. They are all composed of S8 cyclic molecules.

Existence conditions of density, melting point and boiling point

Rhombic sulfur (S8)2.07/cm3 1 12.8℃ 444.674℃ is lower than 200℃.

Monoclinic sulfur (S8)1.96g/cm3119.0℃ 444.6℃ above 200℃.

Sulfur has poor thermal and electrical conductivity. Brittle, insoluble in water, soluble in carbon disulfide (elastic sulfur can only be partially dissolved). Amorphous sulfur is mainly elastic sulfur, which is obtained by rapidly pouring molten sulfur into ice water. Unstable, it can be converted into crystalline sulfur (orthogonal sulfur), which is the only stable form of sulfur at room temperature.

Chemical properties:

The valence is -2, +2, +4 and +6. The first ionization energy is 10.360 eV. Its chemical properties are relatively active, and it can combine with oxygen, metal, hydrogen, halogen (except iodine) and most known elements. It exists in positive and negative oxidation states, and can form ionic compounds, covalent compounds and coordination covalent compounds.

Element source:

Pyrite is the most important sulfide, followed by sulfide minerals of nonferrous metals (copper, lead, zinc, etc. ). Among natural sulfates, gypsum CaSO4 2H2O and mirabilite Na2SO410h2o are the most abundant. It can be made of natural minerals or compounds. There is a lot of sulfur in the crater.

Element usage:

Most of them are used to make sulfuric acid. Rubber products industry, matches, fireworks, sulfate, sulfite, sulfide and other products also need a lot of sulfur. Part of it is used to make drugs, pesticides and bleaches.

Element auxiliary data:

Sulfur exists as a single substance in nature, and every volcanic eruption will bring a lot of underground sulfur to the ground. Sulfur also forms sulfides and sulfates with various metals, which exist widely in nature.

Elemental sulfur has a bright orange-yellow color, which will form a strong pungent smell when burned. It can be asserted that in ancient times, sulfur was found and used through the smell produced by the combustion of metal sulfide.

In the west, the ancients believed that the thick smoke and strong smell formed when sulfur burned could drive away the devil. In the works of Pliny, an ancient Roman naturalist, it was written that sulfur was used to clean houses, because many people believed that the burning smell of sulfur could eliminate all demons and all evil forces. About 4000 years ago, Egyptians bleached cloth with sulfur dioxide formed by sulfur combustion. In the works of Homer, a famous Roman poet, it is also said that sulfur combustion has the function of disinfection and bleaching.

Alchemists in China and the West attach great importance to sulfur. They regard sulfur as the embodiment of flammability and believe that sulfur is one of the elements that make up all objects. China alchemists used a mixture of sulfur and saltpeter to make black powder.

Whether in the west or in China, paleontologists have used sulfur in medicine. In Compendium of Materia Medica compiled by Li Shizhen, a famous doctor in China, the application of sulfur in medicine will be discussed: treating chronic cold in the waist and kidney, removing cold and stubborn cold and heat, and treating scabies by raw use.

The wide application of sulfur promotes the extraction and refining of sulfur. With the development of industry, sulfur plays a key role in the preparation of sulfuric acid, which is the mother of industry and is needed everywhere. Flasch is an American industrial chemist who was born in Germany in 1894. He invented the method of extracting sulfur directly from deep underground with superheated water.

A large amount of sulfur is consumed in the world every year, some of which is used to produce sulfuric acid, another part is used to produce rubber products, paper, sulfate and sulfide, and the other part is used in agriculture, bleaching and dyeing, medicine and so on.

1789, French chemist lavoisier published the first table in modern times, and included sulfur in the table to determine the inseparability of sulfur. /kloc-In the second half of the 8th century, German chemist Michelich and French chemist Pomet discovered that sulfur has different crystal forms, and put forward the allotrope of sulfur.

The sulfur content in the crust is 0.048%