Sulphur

sul'fur, a brittle, yellow, elementary substance. It is widely distributed in nature. It is twice as heavy as water. It burns with a pale blue flame. It is present in coal and is found in small quantities in all meat, eggs, and plant tissues. Fairly pure sulphur occurs in large quantities in the vicinity of active and extinct volcanoes. American production is confined practically to Utah, Nevada, Louisiana, and Mexico. Extensive deposits are known to exist in Japan, but the world's supply comes chiefly from Sicily. Computed at from $20 to $30 a ton, the island has produced not far from $500,000,000 worth of sulphur.

Sulphur has many uses. It is administered in medicine, both as an internal remedy and as an ointment for skin diseases. Sulphur kills many bacteria. It is used in the manufacture of many articles, especially of matches, gunpowder, and fireworks. When added to rubber, it forms the useful compound known as vulcanized or hardened rubber. Burning sulphur is used as a disinfectant and also as a bleaching agent to whiten straw, wool, and silk. California orchard owners pass their fruit and nuts through smoke of sulphur to improve the color. Sulphur fumes are used to kill noxious insects.

Sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol, is one of the most important acids of the laboratory. It is used largely in the arts. Over 4,000,000 tons are required annually. It is prepared from sulphur or obtained from pyrites. Germany, Great Britain, and the United States are large makers of sulphuric acid. In combination with zinc, sulphur forms white vitriol; with copper, blue vitriol, which is the basis of Paris green; with iron, green vitriol, the basis of Prussian blue and many inks; with magnesium, epsom salts; and with sodium, Glauber's salts.

The nauseating odor of rotten eggs is due to a compound of sulphur and hydrogen known as sulphureted hydrogen. Sulphur behaves peculiarly when heated. At 114 deg. C. it melts, becoming a yellow liquid. As the heating is continued, the sulphur thickens and becomes sticky. At 250 deg. C. it is black and so thick it will hardly run. At 300 deg. it becomes clear and limpid. At 448 deg. it boils and forms a yellow vapor.

Sulphur is one of the few elements that blackens silver. Escaping coal gas contains enough sulphur to tarnish silverware. For a similar reason, a soft boiled egg blackens a silver spoon. A silver coin carried in the pocket is likely to blacken by reason of sulphur present in perspiration.

See Popocatepetl; Gunpowder; Disinfecting; Matches; Bleaching