Metallic shine of sulfur: does it exist? Physical and chemical properties of sulfur

Sulfur is the 10th most abundant element in the universe. It has no smell, it is a tasteless, plastic solid of bright yellow color. It is a reactive element, which under favorable conditions is combined with all other elements, except gases, gold and platinum. The metallic sheen of sulfur is present in some sulfur compounds, but not in pure form. Sulfur appears in various allotropic modifications, each of which differs in solubility, specific gravity, crystal arrangement, and other physical constants. Under the influence of pure oxygen, blue combustion occurs, forming sulfur oxide.

Is there a metallic sheen of sulfur?

Glitter is the ability of a substance to reflect the rays of light. This property is directly dependent on the specific chemical bonds in the mineral, its shape and species. Metallic shine of sulfur is best seen on the relatively fresh cleavage of one or another specimen, into which it enters. In its natural form, sulfur appears as a yellowish powder. When it is part of sulphides and sulphates, many minerals can form, some of which are valuable ores and a source for producing non-ferrous metals. Metallic shine of sulfur have sulphides - pyrite, antimonite, galena, chalcocite, chalcopyrite.

general information

Sulfur belongs to the chalcogen group of elements, where oxygen, selenium, tellurium and polonium still belong. The term "chalcogen" comes from two Greek words meaning "ore-forming". Ore is a natural mineral that is used as a source for an element. Many ores are compounds of metal and oxygen or metal and sulfur. Compounds containing at least two elements, one of which is sulfur, are called sulphides. For example, pyrite, a mineral that has a beautiful gold color and metallic luster, is an iron sulphide. He is also known as the "gold of fools". The physical and chemical characteristics of sulfur were known in ancient times. Often it is a brilliant yellow powder. When it burns, it produces a pure blue flame and a very strong suffocating odor.

Sulfur: physical and chemical properties

The physical properties of sulfur are characteristics that can be observed with the help of the senses. Here you can include color, gloss, freezing temperature, melting and boiling, density, hardness and odor. What are the physical characteristics of sulfur? The substance is pale yellow, without taste and odor, insoluble in water. It is a poor conductor of heat and electricity. Metallic shine of sulfur can be observed only in certain compounds. The boiling point is 444.6 ° C. When melting, sulfur turns into a flowing yellow liquid, which acquires a brownish hue and becomes a viscous dark brown mass at a temperature of about 190 ° C. Viscosity decreases with increasing degree (over 190 ° С), and at 300 ° С sulfur becomes liquid again.

What are the chemical properties of sulfur?

These are characteristics that determine how it will react with other substances or when going from one compound to another. The better we know the nature of this substance, the better we are able to understand it. Chemical properties can be seen only during chemical reactions, which can be caused by changes in combustion, rusting, heating, blasting, tarnishing, and so on. The following compounds with the participation of sulfur are known: sodium sulfite, hydrogen sulphide (a poisonous gas that smells of rotten eggs) and sulfuric acid. Reactivity is quite high, especially with increasing temperature. When heated, it reacts actively with metals, forming the corresponding sulphides.

The discovery of a very important element

The name of the element is found even in the Biblical Scriptures in describing the fall of the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, when fire and sulfur overthrew them from heaven. Ancient Greek philosophers believed that everything consists of four elements: earth, fire, water and air. However, there were those who called only two elements: sulfur and mercury. Early thinkers were often puzzled by what they meant by the word "sulfur." For them, it was a substance that burned well and exuded a large amount of smoke. It took centuries for scientists to define this substance as an element. Sulfur exists in two allotropic forms (alpha and beta forms), with different physical and chemical properties. Shine of sulfur is a qualitative characteristic of the light flux, which reflects the mineral in which it enters. Some opaque minerals have the ability to strongly reflect light and have a specific metallic glow.

Occurrence in nature

At one time, the deposits of sulfur were in the surface layers of the Earth. They could be easily found and used by people. Today, the problem with this is more complicated, since at present the natural locations of sulfuric ore are located in close proximity to volcanoes. The substance is released from the craters in the form of gas, which, when encountered with cold air, solidifies, forming beautiful yellow deposits along the edge of the volcano. Large reserves are still of underground origin. Sulfur is also found in a number of important minerals: barite (barium sulfate), celestite (strontium sulfate), cinnabar (mercury sulfide), galena (lead sulfide), pyrite (iron sulfide), sphalerite (zinc sulphide) and stibnite (antimony sulfide).

Isotopes of sulfur

There are four naturally occurring isotopes: sulfur-32, sulfur-33, sulfur-34 and sulfur-36, differing in their mass number. This is the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of the atom of the element. The number of protons determines the element, and the number of neutrons in the atom of any element can vary. There are also six radioactive isotopes that decay and release a certain form of radiation. One of them - sulfur-35 - is used for commercial purposes. In medicine, the isotope is used to study the pathways of fluids within the body. It also has an application in scientific research as an indicator.

Application

Sulfur is relatively little used as an element. Characteristic properties of sulfur include specific behavior during melting.

One of the most important ways to use is vulcanization, the process of adding to rubber to make it tough. Sulfur keeps the rubber from melting when heated. This discovery of Charles Goodyear in 1839 is one of the greatest industrial achievements of our time.

As an insecticide, it can be used to kill insects. However, the most part is involved in various compounds. The most important of these is sulfuric acid, most of which is used to make fertilizers.

A wide application was also received in the oil industry, the production of paper products, agricultural chemicals, plastics, rubber and other synthetic materials. A vital element is a component of two amino acids, cysteine and methionine. Due to its versatility, it is used in the pharmaceutical, medical and industrial industries, in a gaseous form the substance is used as a bleaching agent, solvent and disinfectant.