S Sulfur
Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements

The solid state structure of Sulfur is Face Centered Orthorhombic.

The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.

Unit Cell Parameters

The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)

and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).

The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( x_i, y_i, z_i) measured from a reference lattice point.

The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.

Space Group Name	Fddd
Space Group Number	70
Crystal Structure	Face Centered Orthorhombic
Number of atoms per unit cell

Sulfur atoms have 16 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 6] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) ³P₂.

Atomic Number	16
Number of Electrons (with no charge)	16
Number of Protons	16
Mass Number	32
Number of Neutrons	16
Shell structure (Electrons per energy level)	2, 8, 6
Electron Configuration	[Ne] 3s2 3p4
Valence Electrons	3s2 3p4
Valence (Valency)	6
Main Oxidation States	-2, 2, 4, 6
Oxidation States	-2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers)	3P2

Bohr Atomic Model of Sulfur - Electrons per energy level

n		s	p	d	f

Ground State Electronic Configuration of Sulfur - neutral Sulfur atom

Abbreviated electronic configuration of Sulfur

The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Sulfur atom is [Ne] 3s2 3p4. The portion of Sulfur configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ne]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 3s2 3p4, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.

Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Sulfur

Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Sulfur atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration

1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4

Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.

As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…

The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.

Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.

Atomic Structure of Sulfur

Sulfur atomic radius is 88 pm, while it's covalent radius is 102 pm.

Atomic Spectrum of Sulfur

The electron affinity of Sulfur is 200 kJ/mol.

Ionization Energy of Sulfur

Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Sulfur

Refer to below table for Sulfur Physical Properties

Elastic Properties

Hardness of Sulfur - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element

Sulfur Electrical Properties

Sulfur is Conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties ofSulfur

Sulfur Heat and Conduction Properties

Sulfur Magnetic Properties

Optical Properties of Sulfur

Acoustic Properties of Sulfur

Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Sulfur

Enthalpies of Sulfur

Sulfur has 24 isotopes, with between 26 and 49 nucleons. Sulfur has 4 stable naturally occuring isotopes.

Isotopes of Sulfur - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 32S, 33S, 34S, 36S.