Located in Group 16 Period 3 of the Periodic Table is one of the element that have a very strong and unbearable smell ( which smells like rotten eggs ) when in a compound but odorless when in a pure form. This is Sulphur ( Sulfur in American English ).
First discovered by in 1766 by Henry Cavendish, and first isolated in 1777 by a French Chemist called Antoine Lavoisier.
Henry Cavendish described a blue flame produced and a strong odor smell produced when he was investigating combustion, which is when that time Henry took interest to combustion of air. He produced his works in a report in 1766.
In 1777, Antoine Lavoisier read Cavendish's report more detail. After that, he reproduced Cavendish's Experiment more detail. He finally proved that Sulfur is one of the elements instead of a compound. After that, he gave the new element a name which is Sulfur and produced his works. His experiment to measure the density of air containing sulfur is after that known as the Cavendish experiment.
Actually, Sulfur is known in Ancient Times. Sulfur has been already mentioned in a story book in Ancient India, Ancient Greece, China and even Ancient Egypt. There are even records in the Bible where Sulfur is referred as Brimstone, which means burning stone.
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Sodom and Gomorrah |
For example : Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities, Sodom and Gomorrah, are written in the Genesis account, who God reveals to Abraham that Sodom and Gomorrah are to be destroyed for their grave sins (18:20). Abraham pleads for the lives of any righteous people living there, especially the lives of his nephew, Lot, and his family.
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Sulfur Mine |
Anyway, the city was destroyed with Brimstone and Fires. However, the Brimstone the bible mentioned has similar properties with Sulfur. There is also a record of this incident in the Quran too.
Sulfur mining is also a dangerous business because of its smell and its high concentrations with Oxygen, which forms Sulfur Dioxide, which only high concentrations kill you.
Moreover, people at Sulfur Mining places don't wear gas masks. So, which is why Sulfur mining is very dangerous indeed.
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Arsenic Sulphide |
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Biotin |
Actually, pure Sulfur is a non-toxic element. However, its compounds, such as sulfurous acid and sulfuric acid are found in acid rain, which is very corrosive. In ancient times, Sulfur is also combined with Arsenic to form poison, which is Arsenic Sulfide ( AsS ).
However, despite its bad reputation of smell and poison, there are still several typical vitamins that contain Sulfur, which vitamins are including biotin and thiamine.
Atomic Number : 16
Name : Sulphur ( Sulfur in American English )
Latin Name : Sulfur
Electrons per Shell : [ 2, 8, 6 ]
Discoverer : Henry Cavendish ( 1766 )
Isolator : Antoine Lavoisier ( 1777 )
Element's : Atomic Mass : 12.065 u
: Density : 2 g/cm3
: Type : Other Non - Metals
Chemical Properties :
- Sulfur burns and produce blue flame
- Combines with many elements such as magnesium and sulfur, so when heated, or forms Magnesium Sulfide ( MgS )
- Combines with Hydrogen gas
- 25 isotopes : 3 of them are : Sulfur - 32 : Protons : 16 : Neutrons : 16 : Electrons : 16 ( Half Life : Stable ) Sulfur - 33 : Protons : 16 : Neutrons : 17 : Electrons : 16 ( Half Life : Stable ) Sulfur - 34 : Protons : 16 : Neutrons : 18 : Electrons : 16 ( Half Life : Stable )
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Sulfur - 32 |
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Sulfur Prismatic |
Physical Properties :
- Pale - yellow
- non - metallic
- Crystalline Forms : Rhombic, Amorphous and Prismatic
- Odorless in pure form
- Produces sharp odor which smells like rotten eggs when in a compound
- Melting Point : 115.2 degrees Celsius ( 239.36 Fahrenheit )
- Boiling Point : 444.6 degrees Celsius ( 832.28 Fahrenheit )
How does Sulfur got its name?
Sulfur has 2 versions of name : The American Version and the Britain Version. The American Version is called Sulfur while the Britain Version is Sulphur. The Latin word Sulfur means to burn, which is how Sulfur was discovered. Another reason it was named so because of the formation of Sulfur Dioxide, which has a very smelly smell ( it smells like rotten eggs! ).
Uses
Sulfur can be used for a method called Vulcanization, which is a process of adding Sulfur and Rubber to make it stiff and hard. Sulfur is also used as a pesticide, mainly to kill pests.
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Sulphur Pesticide |
THIS IS THE END OF SULPHUR
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