Difference between revisions of "Sulfur"
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'''Sulfur''' is the 16th element of the periodic table. It is a solid nonmetal that makes up part of the Earth's crust, and is a part of gunpowder and batteries. | '''Sulfur''' is the 16th element of the periodic table. It is a solid nonmetal that makes up part of the Earth's crust, and is a part of gunpowder and batteries. | ||
| − | The name comes from the [[Latin]] word ''sulphurium'', which means brimstone. <ref>http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/S.html</ref> | + | The name comes from the [[Latin]] word ''sulphurium'', which means brimstone. <ref>http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/periodic/S.html</ref> (Brimstone is an ancient word for sulfur). |
Elemental yellow sulfur itself is almost odorless, but many sulfur compounds have strong odors. Hydrogen sulfide has the offensive odor of rotten eggs. The mercaptan family of compounds that give skunks their odor, and which are deliberately added to natural gas because they can be detected in extremely low concentrations, are organic sulfur compounds, as is the compounds that give garlic and onions their smell. | Elemental yellow sulfur itself is almost odorless, but many sulfur compounds have strong odors. Hydrogen sulfide has the offensive odor of rotten eggs. The mercaptan family of compounds that give skunks their odor, and which are deliberately added to natural gas because they can be detected in extremely low concentrations, are organic sulfur compounds, as is the compounds that give garlic and onions their smell. | ||
Revision as of 07:30, March 25, 2007
Sulfur is the 16th element of the periodic table. It is a solid nonmetal that makes up part of the Earth's crust, and is a part of gunpowder and batteries.
The name comes from the Latin word sulphurium, which means brimstone. [1] (Brimstone is an ancient word for sulfur).
Elemental yellow sulfur itself is almost odorless, but many sulfur compounds have strong odors. Hydrogen sulfide has the offensive odor of rotten eggs. The mercaptan family of compounds that give skunks their odor, and which are deliberately added to natural gas because they can be detected in extremely low concentrations, are organic sulfur compounds, as is the compounds that give garlic and onions their smell.