Element 16
Sulfur (S)
Sulfur (S) is element 16 of the periodic table, a reactive nonmetal in period 3, group 16 (p-block) with an atomic mass of 32.06 and is a solid at standard conditions.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 16
- Symbol
- S
- Atomic mass
- 32.06 u
- Category
- Reactive nonmetals
- Period
- 3
- Group
- 16
- Block
- p-block
- Phase at STP
- solid
Electron structure
- Electron configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p4
- Shorthand configuration
- [Ne] 3s2 3p4
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 6
- Oxidation states
- -2, -1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6
Physical properties
- Melting point
- 388.36 K (115.21 °C)
- Boiling point
- 717.87 K (444.72 °C)
- Density
- 2.067 g/cm³
- Phase
- solid
Atomic properties
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 2.58
- Atomic radius
- 88 pm
- Covalent radius
- 105 pm
- Van der Waals radius
- 180 pm
- First ionization energy
- 1000 kJ/mol
- Electron affinity
- 200 kJ/mol
Notable isotopes
| Isotope | Mass | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-32 | 31.97207 | 94.99% | Stable |
Common uses
- Sulfuric acid
- Fertilizers
- Rubber vulcanization
- Gunpowder
Discovery
- Discovered by
- Known since antiquity
- Country
- Unknown
Frequently asked questions
- Is sulfur a metal?
- No. Sulfur is a nonmetal, classified as a reactive nonmetal on the periodic table.
- How many protons does sulfur have?
- Sulfur has 16 protons. Its atomic number is 16, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of sulfur.
- What group and period is sulfur in?
- Sulfur is in group 16 and period 3 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
- What is the atomic mass of sulfur?
- The atomic mass of sulfur is 32.06 u (unified atomic mass units).
Keep exploring
Sulfur's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.