Sulfur, the engine of the chemical industry [English version]

in #steemstem5 years ago

Sulfur, a yellow metal, abundant on the Mediterranean coast. This metal attracted the attention of the Greeks and Romans in antiquity, where they felt that the smell of sulfur gas emitted by volcanic eruptions was indicative of God's activity beneath the earth.

Pixabay
Romans and Greeks used sulfur to whiten their clothes. In the Middle Ages, people used sulfur as a medicine because of its ability to soften the stomach. And in the fourteenth century, sulfur was used in gunpowder. So, sulfur has become a very important material in the industry after being an unknown substance.

Chemical properties:

Sulfur is a non-metal chemical element insoluble in water; but it is soluble in ammonia and in CS2 carbon sulphide, chemical symbol is "S" in group 16 of the Periodic Table of Elements (Block P).
Under normal conditions, the sulfur is present in the solid state, its density is 2.07 gcm-3, the sulfur is fused at a temperature equal to 115.21 ° C, and boiling at 444.61 ° C.
-Fusion energy = 1.7175 KJ / mol.
-Spraying energy = 45 KJ / mol.
-Electrical conductivity = 0.5 FS / m.
-Thermal conductivity = 0.296 N / m.K.

Sulfur in nature:


Pixabay
Sulfur exists underground and on the earth's crust combined with other elements such as: hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, metals ....

  • The most important compounds containing sulfur:
  • Iron sulphide (Pyrite) FeS2.
  • H2S hydrogen sulfide.
  • Oil.
  • Sulphides, sulphates.
  • Sulfur dioxide SO2.
  • The coal.
  • Mercury sulphide HgS.
  • Zinc sulphide ZnS.
  • The chalcopyrite CuFeS2.


Le pyrite, Source: Pixabay
Sulfur is concentrated in volcanic areas, the best known being Iceland, Italy, Melo Island, Russia, Austria, Hungary, southern France, Spain, Iran , India, Palestine, Algeria, Peru, United States of America and New Zealand. The places mentioned have volcanic areas or near them.

  • The oxidation of pyrite in nature causes the release of sulfur and its products, they destroy the surrounding rocks and combine with other elements to give the gypsum and other minerals. Sulfur combines quickly with different metals, so it does not remain for a long time at its original state.

Sulfur and industry:


Pixabay

Without sulfur, the industry would be impossible because it is at the base of the chemical industries, the most important of which are:
-The manufacture of papers, celluloids and most drugs.
-Refinement of oil, ethers and oils.
-The production of phosphate fertilizers, alums (aluminum sulphate), and glasses.
-Manufacture of dynamites, cements, matches.
-Sulfatage.
-Manufacture of rubber.
-Manufacture of dyes.
-plays a role in obtaining the nitric and hydrochloric acids and acetic acid.

  • Sulfur for the manufacture of soap:

    Pixabay
    Sulfur soap is a form of treatment used to treat acne and skin problems. Where it has multiple benefits because it contains the element of sulfur that is very important for the skin, we mention these benefits, some of which:
    -Cleans the skin of pimples and acne.
    -Eliminates toxins and dirt on the skin.
    -Cleans the skin of fungi and bacteria.
    -Helps to whiten the skin, eliminate fat and give it softness.
    -Helps prevent dryness and roughness of the skin.
    -Contribute to the elimination of brown spots.
    -Contributes to the treatment of eczema and psoriasis.

Despite all its advantages, it is not recommended to put sulfur soap on the eyes, nose, genitals or mouth and not use it permanently because it irritates the skin.

References:
Soufre, Wikipedia
Sulfure de carbone, Wikipedia
Tout savoir sur le soufre
Savon au soufre, quels bienfaits contre l'acne ?
[Livre, La Géochimie récréative, G.Fresman (Chapitre 4, page 127)

Sort:  

Wow! I legit didn’t know about these uses for sulfur until now. Thanks for the crash course!!

you welcom :) thankx for reading

Congratulations @benainouna! You have completed the following achievement on the Steem blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :

You published more than 80 posts. Your next target is to reach 90 posts.

You can view your badges on your Steem Board and compare to others on the Steem Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word STOP

To support your work, I also upvoted your post!

You can upvote this notification to help all Steem users. Learn how here!



This post has been voted on by the SteemSTEM curation team and voting trail. It is elligible for support from @curie.

If you appreciate the work we are doing, then consider supporting our witness stem.witness. Additional witness support to the curie witness would be appreciated as well.

For additional information please join us on the SteemSTEM discord and to get to know the rest of the community!

Please consider setting @steemstem as a beneficiary to your post to get a stronger support.

Please consider using the steemstem.io app to get a stronger support.