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Sulfur
1.
The cosmic abundance of sulfur is 5.15 * 105 units of number of atoms per 106 atoms of
silicon. It has a high abundance because it is produced in the stars. It also has strong
nuclear stability (even atomic number).
2.
Sulfur has four naturally occurring isotopes: 32S, 33S, 34S, 36S.
Some of the longest lived radioactive isotopes of sulfer and their half-lives:
35
S.................87.2 d
37
S.................5.05 m
38
S.................2.84 h
3.
Sulfur has a relatively high electronegativity of 2.58, and can form as many as six bonds
by involving empty d orbitals in their valence shell. The valence numbers of sulfer are -2
and +6. The former tends to produce Hydrogen sulfide and the latter tends to produce
Sulfuric acid.
4.
The ionic radius of sulfur ions:
S(VI).......26/pm
S(IV).......51/pm
S(VI).......43/pm
Sulfer is a major element in our universe.
5.
Sulfuric acid is the most manufactured chemical in the world, used mainly in the
fertilizing industry. It is also used in batteries (ie. battery acid). Sulfur is a component of
black gun powder, which is used in the vulcanisation of natural rubber, and as a
fungicide, and also as a fumigant. Other sulfur compounds are used to bleach died fruits,
and for paper products.
6.
Sulfur makes up less the 0.1% of the earth=s crust, primarily in metal sulfides such as
pyrite. It is also located in vast deposits of elemental sulfur lying on domes of salt at
depths of hundreds of feet. Sulfur is also a component of protein and is present in every
living cell. Sulfur is mined from subsurface deposits by the Frasch process, in which the
sulfur is forced to the surface by hot water and air.