Sulfur

1. Sulfur Shauna Carter Professor Warren Chemistry 1010-042 E-Portfolio Project

2. Atomic Number: 16 Symbol: S Atomic Weight: 32.066 Discovery: Known since Prehistoric Time Nonmetal

3. Where is it found? • Sulfur can be found in nature as the pure element • It is also found as sulfide and sulfate minerals • Sulfur, mainly as sulfide is found in meteorites • Sulfur is commonly found near hot springs and volcanoes

4. Physical Properties • Sulfur is a pale yellow, brittle, odorless solid • It occurs in large yellow crystal deposits • Melting point is 115.21 oC • Boiling point is 444.61 oC • Density: 2.070 (g/cc)

5. Chemical Properties • It is stable in air and water but will burn if ignited • When burned Sulfur burns a blue flame that forms sulfur dioxide, which gives off an odd overpowering odor • Molten sulfur assumes a dark red color above 200 °C

6. Biological role: • Sulfur is essential to all living things, and is used in biochemical processes • An average human contains about 140 grams of sulfur • Sulfur compounds help as both fuels and respiratory materials for simple organisms • It is non-toxic as the element and as sulphate, however carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide, and sulfur dioxide are toxic. • Hydrogen sulphide especially is toxic as it can cause death from respiratory paralysis

7. Uses of Sulfur: • The most important use of sulfur is to make sulfuric acid, which is the most important chemical manufactured • It is a component of gun powder, fertilizer, and fungicide • It is also used in the vulcanization of rubber • Sulfites are used to bleach paper and to preserve in dried fruit

8. Sulfuric Acid • Sulfuric acid has many uses and is an essential substance in the chemical industry • Primary uses are: • Lead-acid batteries for cars • Mineral processing • Fertilizer manufacturing • Oil refining • Wastewater processing • Chemical synthesis

9. Fungicide and Pesticide • Elemental sulfur is one of the oldest pesticides • Used in powder form it can be dusted on grapes, strawberries and many other fruits and vegetables as a common fungicide • For organic crops sulfur is the most important fungicide. It is also the only fungicide used on organic apple farms to help protect the apples against the main disease apple scab • Elemental sulfur powder is used as an organic insecticide against ticks and mites • Dilute solutions of lime sulfur can be used on pets to help destroy ringworm, mange and other parasites

10. Food preservation • Small amounts of sulfur dioxide gas is added to wine to produce traces of sulfurous acid and sulfite salts. The sulfites help to absorb oxygen to inhibit bacterial growth after the yeast fermentation stage in wine making. This has been called "the most powerful tool in winemaking.” Without this wine would probably require refrigeration before drinking. • Sulfur dioxide has been used as preservatives in other foods because of its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This practice however has declined due to reports of allergic reactions in some people caused by the sulfites in foods.

11. Precautions • Elemental sulfur is non toxic • High concentrations of sulfur dioxide can harm lungs, eyes, and tissue • Sulfuric acid is highly corrosive and is a component of acid rain • Hydrogen sulfide is toxic and has a pungent odor. However it quickly deadens the sense of smell so a person may not realize they breath in large amounts which can lead to death

12. Works Cited • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfur#Applications • http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/sulfur.htm • http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/16/Sulfur • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulfuric_acid