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Sulfur is an essential component of all living cells. It is the eighth most abundant element in the human body by weight, [100] about equal in abundance to potassium, and slightly greater than sodium and chlorine. [101] A 70 kg (150 lb) human body contains about 140 grams (4.9 oz) of sulfur. [102]
Sulfur (16 S) has 23 known isotopes with mass numbers ranging from 27 to 49, four of which are stable: 32 S (95.02%), 33 S (0.75%), 34 S (4.21%), and 36 S (0.02%). The preponderance of sulfur-32 is explained by its production from carbon-12 plus successive fusion capture of five helium-4 nuclei, in the so-called alpha process of exploding type II supernovas (see silicon burning).
Allotropes of sulfur. Cyclo -octasulfur (cyclo - S8 or cyclooctasulfane), the most prevalent allotrope of sulfur in nature. The element sulfur exists as many allotropes. In number of allotropes, sulfur is second only to carbon. [1] In addition to the allotropes, each allotrope often exists in polymorphs (different crystal structures of the same ...
The important sulfur cycle is a biogeochemical cycle in which the sulfur moves between rocks, waterways and living systems. It is important in geology as it affects many minerals and in life because sulfur is an essential element (), being a constituent of many proteins and cofactors, and sulfur compounds can be used as oxidants or reductants in microbial respiration. [1]
Treatment of sulfur with hydrogen gives hydrogen sulfide.When dissolved in water, hydrogen sulfide is mildly acidic: [5] H 2 S ⇌ HS − + H +. Hydrogen sulfide gas and the hydrosulfide anion are extremely toxic to mammals, due to their inhibition of the oxygen-carrying capacity of hemoglobin and certain cytochromes in a manner analogous to cyanide and azide.
Flowers of sulfur (British spelling flowers of sulphur) is a very fine, bright yellow sulfur powder that is produced by sublimation and deposition. It can contain up to 30% of the amorphous allotrope of sulfur, which is the noncrystalline structure of sulfur. [1] It is known as flores sulphuris by apothecaries and in older scientific works.
Organosulfur chemistry is the study of the properties and synthesis of organosulfur compounds, which are organic compounds that contain sulfur. [1] They are often associated with foul odors, but many of the sweetest compounds known are organosulfur derivatives, e.g., saccharin. Nature is abound with organosulfur compounds—sulfur is vital for ...
Octasulfur forms several allotropes: α-sulfur, β-sulfur, γ-sulfur, and λ-sulfur. λ-Sulfur is the liquid form of octasulfur, from which γ-sulfur can be crystallised by quenching. If λ-sulfur is crystallised slowly, it will revert to β-sulfur. Since it must have been heated over 115 °C, neither crystallised β-sulfur or γ-sulfur will be ...