Sulfur (S)
"The Brimstone Brawler, a hero with a distinctive smell, known since ancient times and a key part of gunpowder."
A memorable persona to anchor S in your mind.
2.07
Grams per cm³
115.21
Celsius (°C)
180
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The head of a matchstick.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
Ancient
Discovered By
Unknown
Origin of Name
"The name is derived either from the Sanskrit 'sulvere', or the Latin 'sulfurium'."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
32.06 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
444.61°C
Electron Configuration
[Ne] 3s23p4
1st Ionization Energy
10.36 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A bright yellow, brittle, crystalline solid."
Did You Know?
It is mentioned in the Bible and ancient texts as "brimstone," often associated with divine punishment.
The characteristic smell of rotten eggs is not from sulfur itself, but from hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), a compound of sulfur and hydrogen.
Sulfur is responsible for the distinctive smells of many other things, including garlic, onions, and skunk spray.
The process of vulcanization, which makes rubber more durable, involves heating it with sulfur.