16SSulfur32.06[Ne] 3s² 3p⁴
polyatomic nonmetal
Sulfur
Sulfur or sulphur (see spelling differences) is a chemical element with symbol S and atomic number 16. It is an abundant, multivalent non-metal. Under normal conditions, sulfur atoms form cyclic octatomic molecules with chemical formula S8.
A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.
Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
3s2
3p4
10 is the [Ne] core total across two shells.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 16
- Atomic mass
- 32.06 u
- Phase
- Solid
- Density
- 2.07 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 388.36 K
- Boiling point
- 717.8 K
- First ionization energy
- 999.6 kJ/mol
- Electronegativity
- 2.58
- Electron affinity
- 200.4101 kJ/mol
- Molar heat capacity
- 22.75 J/(mol·K)
- Period
- 3
- Appearance
- lemon yellow sintered microcrystals
Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, imagery, and reference data in more depth. Properties with no value in the reference are marked unavailable.