Several allotropes, of which orthorhombic S8 is
the most stable. Stable to air and water but burns if heated. Attacked by
oxidizing acids. Recovered from H2S in natural gas or from salt
domes by the Frasch process. Key industrial chemical.
Diagnostic tests: Native Sulfur (S0): Native sulfur can be detected by the
faint odor of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas from the sample. Sulfides (S2-): In the closed tube, some sulfides give
off sulfur when heated. In the open tube, they yield sharp smelling sulfur
dioxide (SO2) gas. Sulfates (SO42-): Fuse a sample on charcoal
mixed with with soda (Na2CO3) and charcoal dust. The
fused mass, when sodium sulfide has thus been formed, is place on a clean
silver coin or other object and moistened, a distinct black stain on the
silver is thus obtained. In an acid (HCl) solution, SO42-
gives a white precipitate by the addition of dilute BaCl2.
References
Emsley, J., 1991; THE ELEMENTS : Sec. Ed.,
Clarendon Press, Oxford, 251 p.
(* - Mineral Name Is Not IMA Approved)
(! - New Dana classification added or changed from Danas New Mineralogy)
(? - IMA Discredited Mineral Species Name)
There are 998 minerals with S in the Mineralogy Database.