---
title: "Sulfur (S) — element 16"
description: "Sulfur is element 16, symbol S, atomic weight 32.06. Configuration, properties, uses and neighbours."
url: https://atoneplace.net/element/sulfur/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Sulfur (S)

**Sulfur — element 16: S**

32.06 u · Nonmetal · period 3, group 16

Sulfuric acid production is used as an index of a country's industrial output, because so much of chemistry passes through it. Sulfur is one of the few elements that occurs natively as a pure yellow mineral, which is why it has been known and named since antiquity — the biblical brimstone. Pure sulfur has almost no smell; the stench associated with it belongs to its compounds, and the human nose can detect some thiols at a few parts per trillion, which is why a trace of one is added to natural gas to make leaks noticeable.

## Properties

- **Atomic number:** 16
- **Symbol:** S
- **Standard atomic weight:** 32.06 u
- **Category:** Nonmetal
- **Group:** 16
- **Period:** 3
- **Block:** p-block
- **Electron configuration:** [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴
- **Electrons per shell:** 2, 8, 6
- **Melting point:** 388.36 K — 115.2 °C — 239.4 °F
- **Boiling point:** 717.75 K — 444.6 °C — 832.3 °F
- **Density:** 2.067 g/cm³
- **Electronegativity:** 2.58 (Pauling)
- **Oxidation states:** +6, +4, -2
- **Discovered:** Known since antiquity

## Electron configuration

- **Full:** 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴
- **Noble gas shorthand:** [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴
- **Shells:** K: 2 · L: 8 · M: 6

## What it is used for

- Sulfuric acid, the most-produced industrial chemical in the world
- Vulcanising rubber for tyres and seals
- Fungicide on grapes and other crops
- Gunpowder and match heads
- Sulfur dioxide as a preservative in wine and dried fruit

> IUPAC publishes an interval, [32.059, 32.076]; 32.06 is the conventional value. Spelled "sulfur" following IUPAC and US usage; "sulphur" is carried as an alias.

## Neighbours in the table

| Z | Element | Symbol | Mass |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 14 | Silicon | Si | 28.085 |
| 15 | Phosphorus | P | 30.974 |
| 16 | Sulfur ← | S | 32.06 |
| 17 | Chlorine | Cl | 35.45 |
| 18 | Argon | Ar | 39.95 |

## Group 16

Elements in the same group share their outer electron count, which is why they behave similarly in reactions. Sulfur sits in group 16 with oxygen, selenium, tellurium, polonium, livermorium.

## Common questions

### What is the atomic number of sulfur?

16. That is the number of protons in its nucleus, which is what defines the element.

### What is the symbol for sulfur?

S.

### What is the electron configuration of sulfur?

1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p⁴, or [Ne] 3s² 3p⁴ in noble-gas shorthand.

### What is the melting point of sulfur?

388.36 K — 115.2 °C — 239.4 °F

## Related pages

- [Silicon (Si)](https://atoneplace.net/element/silicon/)
- [Phosphorus (P)](https://atoneplace.net/element/phosphorus/)
- [Chlorine (Cl)](https://atoneplace.net/element/chlorine/)
- [Argon (Ar)](https://atoneplace.net/element/argon/)
- [Oxygen (O)](https://atoneplace.net/element/oxygen/)
- [Selenium (Se)](https://atoneplace.net/element/selenium/)
- [Tellurium (Te)](https://atoneplace.net/element/tellurium/)
- [Polonium (Po)](https://atoneplace.net/element/polonium/)
- [Livermorium (Lv)](https://atoneplace.net/element/livermorium/)

## Sources

- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place (/about/)