How do you get sulfur?

Answer 1

Sulphur is an important non-metallic yellow element. At ordinary temperature it exists as a solid. It melts at 119deg.c and boils at 444deg.c. It does not dissolve in water but does so in carbon disulphide. Its atomic number is 16 and relative density is 2.

Sulphur is found in different forms. These are called allotropes of sulphur. Its three important allotropic forms are: rhombic sulphur, monoclinic sulphur, and plastic sulphur. The common form is called rhombic sulphur. It is made up of eightsided yellow crystals.

When it is heated to more than 950deg.c, it changes into monoclinic sulphur. when the molten sulphur. When the molten sulphur is pored into cold water, it changes into plastic sulphur. Another allotrope is called flowers of sulphur. It is a yellow powder and is made by quickly cooling sulphur vapour.

Large deposits of sulphur are found beneath the earth in several layers, especially in the United States. It is mined by a method called the Frasch process. This method was developed by Herman Frasch in 1891. employing this method ,three coaxial pipes of different diameters are inserted into the earth upto the sulphur bed. superheated water,at 170deg.c, is pumped down the outer pipe and compressed air is pumped down the central pipe . The sulphur is melted by the hot water and forced up by compressed air. The melted sulphur comes up through the middle pipe. It is collected in big wooden vats. Sulphur obtained by this process is 99.5% pure. Sulphur also occurs in nature as hydrogen sulphide gas, calcium sulphate and as sulphides.

Sulphur is a reactive element.It burns in the air with a blue flame to form sulphur dioxide. This gas pollutes the air. Sulphur trioxide is another oxide of sulphur which dissolves in water and forms sulphuric acid.

Most sulphur is used to make sulphuric acid. It is of great industrial importance. Sulphur is used in making wood pulp and for vulcanizing rubber. It is also used to make wide range of products like drugs, dyes and chemicals to kill insects and moulds. It is also used in manufacture of gun-powder and matches.