Sulfur (S)
Sulfur burns with a blue flame, producing sulfur dioxide, a gas with a sharp, choking smell.
Sulfur properties
- Atomic mass
- 32.06 u
- Category
- Reactive nonmetal
- Group
- 16
- Period
- 3
- Block
- p-block
- State at room temp.
- Solid
- Electronegativity
- 2.58
- Melting point
- 388.36 K (115.2 °C)
- Boiling point
- 717.8 K (444.6 °C)
- Density
- 2.07 g/cm³
- Oxidation states
- +6, +4, −2
- Atomic radius
- 180 pm
- Ionization energy
- 10.36 eV
- Electron affinity
- 2.077 eV
- Radioactive
- No, has stable isotopes
- Discovered
- Ancient
Sulfur electron configuration
- Electron configuration
- [Ne] 3s2 3p4
- Full electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
- Electron shells
- 2 · 8 · 6
The electron configuration of Sulfur (S) is [Ne] 3s2 3p4. Its 16 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 6.
Protons, neutrons and electrons in Sulfur
A neutral Sulfur atom has 16 protons and 16 electrons. Most Sulfur atoms have about 16 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 32, minus the atomic number 16.
Neutrons are approximate: atoms of the same element can have different numbers of neutrons (isotopes). Atomic number and mass
How many valence electrons does Sulfur have?
6
Sulfur has 6 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 3. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
Sulfur orbital diagram
Each box is an orbital that holds up to two electrons with opposite spins (↑↓). The inner shells are the same as the noble gas in brackets. How to write electron configurations
Molar mass of Sulfur
32.06 g/mol
One mole of Sulfur atoms (6.022 × 10²³ atoms) has a mass of 32.06 grams. Use this value to convert between grams and moles.
Compounds containing Sulfur
Sulfur facts
- Sulfur burns with a blue flame, producing sulfur dioxide, a gas with a sharp, choking smell.
- Pure sulfur has almost no smell; the rotten-egg odor often blamed on it comes from the compound hydrogen sulfide.
- Sulfur (S) has atomic number 16 and is a solid at room temperature. It has been known since ancient times.
Position in the periodic table
Sulfur is element 16, in period 3 and group 16 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
Uses of Sulfur
Sulfur is mostly turned into sulfuric acid, one of the most heavily produced industrial chemicals, which is used above all to make phosphate fertilizers. Sulfur is also used to vulcanize rubber for tires, as a fungicide on crops such as grapes, and in matches and fireworks. Today most sulfur is recovered as a by-product of cleaning oil and natural gas.
Who discovered Sulfur?
Sulfur has been known since ancient times, when it was called brimstone; it occurs naturally as yellow crystals near volcanoes and hot springs. Antoine Lavoisier recognized it as a chemical element and included it in his 1789 list of elements.
Where does the name come from?
Sulfur comes from the Latin sulfur (also spelled sulphur), the Romans' name for this yellow substance; its deeper origin is unknown. In older English it was called brimstone, meaning 'burning stone'.
Same group
Compare Sulfur
FAQ
What is the electron configuration of Sulfur?
The electron configuration of Sulfur (S) is [Ne] 3s2 3p4. Its 16 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 6.
How many protons, neutrons and electrons does Sulfur have?
A neutral Sulfur atom has 16 protons and 16 electrons. Most Sulfur atoms have about 16 neutrons: the atomic mass rounded to 32, minus the atomic number 16.
How many valence electrons does Sulfur have?
Sulfur has 6 valence electrons in its outermost shell, shell 3. These are the electrons involved in chemical bonding.
What is the molar mass of Sulfur?
The molar mass of Sulfur is 32.06 g/mol. This is the same number as its atomic mass, 32.06 u.
Is Sulfur a metal?
No. Sulfur is a reactive nonmetal, so it is a nonmetal.
Is Sulfur radioactive?
Ordinary Sulfur is not radioactive: it has at least one stable isotope. Like every element, it also has radioactive isotopes, most of them made in laboratories.
Where is Sulfur on the periodic table?
Sulfur is element 16, in period 3 and group 16 of the periodic table, in the p-block.