Sulfur

Sulfur (or sulphur; see spelling below) is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is an abundant, tasteless, odorless, multivalent non-metal. Sulfur, in its native form, is a yellow crystaline solid. In nature, it can be found as the pure element or as sulfide and sulfate minerals. It is an essential element for life and is found in several amino acids. Its commercial uses are primarily in fertilizers but it is also widely used in gunpowder, matches, insecticides and fungicides.

Applications

Sulfur has many industrial uses. Through its major derivative, sulfuric acid (H2SO4), sulfur ranks as one of the more important elements used as an industrial raw material. It is of prime importance to every sector of the world's economies. Sulfuric acid production is the major end use for sulfur, and consumption of sulfuric acid has been regarded as one of the best indices of a nation's industrial development. More sulfuric acid is produced in the United States every year than any other industrial chemical. Sulfur is also used in batteries, detergents, the vulcanization of rubber, fungicides, and in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. Sulfites are used to bleach paper and as a preservative in wine and dried fruit. Because of its flammable nature, sulfur also finds use in matches, gunpowder, and fireworks. Sodium or ammonium thiosulfate are used as photographic fixing agents. Magnesium sulfate, better known as Epsom salts can be used as a laxative, a bath additive, an exfoliant, or a magnesium supplement for plants.

Related Topics:
Sulfuric acid - H - O - World's economies - United States - Batteries - Detergents - Vulcanization - Rubber - Fungicides - Phosphate - Sulfite - Bleach - Paper - Wine - Fruit - Match - Gunpowder - Firework - Thiosulfate - Magnesium - Sulfate - Epsom salts - Laxative - Exfoliant

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