Sulfur (symbol S, atomic number 16) is a yellow nonmetal used to make sulfuric acid, the most-produced industrial chemical. It is classified as a reactive nonmetal and sits in group 16, period 3 of the periodic table.
Overview
Sulfur is the chemical element with atomic number 16 and the symbol S. With a standard atomic weight of 32.06, it is a reactive nonmetal. In the periodic table it occupies group 16 and period 3, and under standard conditions it is normally a solid. Sulfur is a yellow nonmetal used to make sulfuric acid, the most-produced industrial chemical.
Atomic structure
An atom of Sulfur has 16 protons in its nucleus and, when neutral, 16 electrons arranged in the configuration [Ne] 3s2 3p4. Its standard atomic weight of 32.06 reflects the natural mix of its stable isotopes.
Discovery and place in the table
Sulfur has been known since antiquity. It follows Phosphorus (P) and precedes Chlorine (Cl) in order of atomic number.
| Atomic number | 16 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | S |
| Atomic mass | 32.06 |
| Category | Reactive nonmetal |
| Group | 16 |
| Period | 3 |
| Electron configuration | [Ne] 3s2 3p4 |
| Phase at STP | Solid |
| Discovered | Antiquity |