| Hazard Information | Back Directory | [Chemical Properties]
Sulfur is a yellow crystalline solid or powder. Often transported in the molten state. | [Potential Exposure]
Widely used in manufacture of sulfuric acid; carbon bisulfide; drugs, fungicides, gunpowder, wood pulp; rubber, and other products. | [First aid]
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit. | [Shipping]
UN1350 Sulfur, Hazard Class: 4.1; Labels: 4.1-Flammable solid (International). NA1350 Sulfur, Hazard class: 9; Labels: 9-Miscellaneous hazardous material (Domestic). UN2448 Sulfur, molten, Hazard Class: 4.1; Labels: 4.1-Flammable solid (International). NA 2448 Sulfur, molten Hazard class: 9; Labels: 9-Miscellaneous hazardous material (Domestic). | [Incompatibilities]
Widely used in manufacture of sulfuric acid; carbon bisulfide; drugs, fungicides, gunpowder, wood pulp; rubber, and other products. | [Waste Disposal]
Salvage for reprocessing or dump to landfill. | [Uses]
Organic sulfur compounds occur in garlic, mustard,
onions, and cabbage and are responsible for the odor of
skunks. Sulfur occurs in living tissue and is part of some
amino acids. Unlike many other inorganic elements, sulfur
itself is relatively nontoxic. Sulfur and some of its salts have
been used medicinally. Organosulfur compounds, such as
diallyl disulfide, exhibit antiproliferative effects on cancer
cells. The consumption of sulfur is a measure of
national industrial development and economic activity.
Sulfur is most often used as a chemical reagent, rather
than as part of a finished product. In the United States,about 90% of sulfur consumed was in the form of sulfuric
acid. Agricultural chemicals (primarily fertilizers) comprised
about 62% of sulfur demand; petroleum refining, 26%;
and metal mining, 5%. | [Definition]
ChEBI: Sulfur atom is a nonmetal atom and a chalcogen. It has a role as a macronutrient. | [Production Methods]
Sulfur (S) occurs naturally as a yellow, water-insoluble solid.
The name is from the Latin “sulphur.” Early Greek physicians
mention sulfur and the fumes from burning sulfur in
religious ceremonies.Sulfur can be
extracted from crude oil in the refining process, as well as
from stack gases resulting from coal combustion. Sulfur
occurs in fossil fuels and in metal (Fe, Pb) ores. The
world resources of elemental sulfur in evaporate and volcanic deposits and sulfur associated with natural gas, petroleum, tar
sands, and metal sulfides equal about 5 billion ton. The
sulfur in gypsum and anhydrite is almost limitless; about 600
billion ton of sulfur is present in coal, oil shale, and shale rich
in organic matter. However, recovery of sulfur from these
sources poses an economic challenge due to lack of low-cost
technologies. The U.S. sulfur resource is estimated at about
one-fifth of the world total. Exposure may occur in
numerous operations related to the mining and recovery of
sulfur. | [Health Hazard]
Sulfur is present in every cell in the body, primarily in proteins containing the amino acids methionine, cystine, and cysteine. Inorganic sulfates and sulfides occur in small amounts relative to total body sulfur, but the compounds that contain them are important to metabolism. Sulfur intake is thought to be adequate if protein intake is adequate and sulfur deficiency has not been reported.
Although sulfur is in the same group of the Periodic Table, Group 16(VIA), as oxygen, sulfur functions much more like phosphorus, Group 15(VA), in biological systems. In fat metabolism, sulfur plays a key role analogous to that of phosphorus in carbohydrate metabolism. Fatty acid synthesis and degradation begin and end with the same compound, acetyl-S coenzyme A (acetyl–SCoA). |
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