Sulfur
Reactive Nonmetal
Sulfur (S) is a chemical element with atomic number 16, classified as a reactive nonmetal. At room temperature it is a solid. It has been known since ancient times.
Properties
- Atomic number
- 16
- Atomic mass
- 32.06 u
- Category
- Reactive Nonmetal
- Group
- 16
- Period
- 3
- Block
- p-block
- Electron configuration
- [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 2.067 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 388.36 K (115.2 °C)
- Boiling point
- 717.87 K (444.7 °C)
- Electronegativity
- 2.58
- Atomic radius
- 88 pm
- Ionization energy
- 10.36 eV
- Discovery
- Known since ancient times
Common uses
Gunpowder, rubber vulcanization, fertilizers, medicines
Did you know?
Known since ancient times and creates the smell of rotten eggs in hydrogen sulfide.
Compounds you can make with sulfur
Sulfur appears in 12 compounds in our periodic table sandbox. Each one is a real substance with its true chemical formula — combine the right elements in the right ratio below to discover it.
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H2SO4
Sulfuric Acid
A dense, oily acid and one of the most produced industrial chemicals on Earth.
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SO2
Sulfur Dioxide
A pungent gas released by volcanoes and the burning of fossil fuels.
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H2S
Hydrogen Sulfide
A toxic gas famous for its rotten-egg odor, produced by decaying matter.
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FeS
Iron(II) Sulfide
A dark compound; "fool’s gold" (pyrite) is a related iron sulfide.
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CuSO4
Copper(II) Sulfate (Blue Vitriol)
A brilliant blue salt used as a fungicide, algaecide, and in electroplating.
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MgSO4
Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salt)
Epsom salt, dissolved in baths to soothe sore muscles and used in gardening.
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CaSO4
Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum)
Gypsum, the mineral in drywall, plaster of Paris, and blackboard chalk.
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Na2SO4
Sodium Sulfate (Glauber’s Salt)
A salt used in detergents, glassmaking, and the kraft process for paper.
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ZnS
Zinc Sulfide
A glowing phosphor used in old CRT screens and glow-in-the-dark paints.
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PbS
Lead(II) Sulfide (Galena)
The shiny grey mineral galena, the most important ore of lead.
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HgS
Mercury(II) Sulfide (Cinnabar)
Cinnabar, the brilliant red mineral that is the chief ore of mercury.
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BaSO4
Barium Sulfate
The mineral barite — so insoluble that patients safely drink it as X-ray contrast.