Sulfur (S)

Sulfur is a nonmetal with atomic number 16, in period 3 and group 16 of the periodic table. Its atomic mass is 32.06 u and its electron configuration is [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴. Solid at 25 °C.

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Key facts

Atomic number	16
Atomic mass	32.06 u
Category	Nonmetal
Period	3
Group	16
Block	p
Electron configuration	[Ne] 3s² 3p⁴
Electrons per shell	2, 8, 6
Electronegativity (Pauling)	2.58
Oxidation states	−2, −1, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6common in bold
State at 25 °C	Solid
Melting point	388.36 K115.21 °C
Boiling point	717.87 K444.72 °C
Density	2.07 g/cm³

Atomic properties

First ionization energy	10.36 eV
Electron affinity	200 kJ/mol
Atomic radius	100 pm
Covalent radius	105 pm
Van der Waals radius	180 pm
Common ions	S²⁻
Protons, neutrons, electrons	16, 16, 16

Physical and thermal properties

Molar volume	15.53 cm³/mol
Heat of fusion	1.73 kJ/mol
Heat of vaporization	9.8 kJ/mol
Specific heat	705 J/(kg·K)
Thermal conductivity	0.205 W/(m·K)
Thermal expansion	---
Mohs hardness	2
Young’s modulus	---
Crystal structure	Face-centered orthorhombic
Magnetic type	Diamagnetic

Identification and history

CAS number	7704-34-9
Latin name	Sulphur
Discovered by	Known since antiquity
Named by	---

Natural isotopes

Isotope	Mass (u)	Abundance
³²S	31.972071	94.85 %
³³S	32.971459	0.763 %
³⁴S	33.967867	4.365 %
³⁶S	35.967081	0.0158 %

Data checked against PubChem (NIH), IUPAC, the NIST Atomic Spectra Database and the IAEA (NUBASE and AME), the same data you see in the app.

A dash (---) means there is no reliable published measurement. The app never makes one up.

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