Solid sulphur is a pale yellow colour. It is odourless and insoluble in water. Sulphur is an indespensable element of life. As it is a constuent of some body liquids, fats and of the skeleton.
The most important sources of sulfur are the mines of sulfur in the native state that can be found mainly in the USA (Louisiana and Texas), and in Japan. In Europe, the main deposits are in Sicily. In Spain, there are deposits in the Mountain of Gador (Almeria). In Portugal, it occurs in the Furnas of S. Miguel (Azores). This element can also be found, in the form of metallic sulfides, in pyrite, calcopyrite, galena, blende, rosalgar and the cinnabar. Volcanic gases contain sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, which can also be found dissolved in the sulfuric waters. Sulphur can be extracted by the Frasch process.
Sulfur is mainly used in the production of several compounds as the sulfurous gas, sulfite, sulfuric and sulphydric acids, carbon sulfides and others. It is also used in the production of the black gunpowder and of insecticides, pharmaceutical products and disinfectants, as well as in the vulcanization of the rubber.
Author:Jake Moss (document modification date: 29th May 2003