S

    Sulfur

    Nonmetal

    Atomic Number: 16 • Atomic Mass: 32.0600 u • Period: 3 • Group: 16

    Electron Configuration: 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴
    Phase: Solid
    Electronegativity: 2.58

    Physical & Chemical Properties

    Physical Properties

    • Yellow crystalline solid
    • Poor conductor of heat and electricity
    • Exists in several allotropic forms
    • Most common form is orthorhombic (α-sulfur)
    Melting Point

    388.36 K (115.21 °C, 239.38 °F)

    Boiling Point

    717.87 K (444.72 °C, 832.50 °F)

    Density

    2.07 g/cm³

    Electronegativity

    2.58 (Pauling scale)

    Chemical Properties

    • Forms hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) with hydrogen (rotten egg smell)
    • Burns with blue flame to form sulfur dioxide
    • Can form compounds in oxidation states from -2 to +6
    • Reacts with most metals to form sulfides

    Electron Configuration

    1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴

    Electron configuration describes how electrons are distributed in atomic orbitals, showing how they are arranged in energy levels and subshells.