CHAPTER XIV 

 Sulfur and Its Compounds 



112. Occurrence. Sulfur is found free, and in combina- 

 tion with other elements ; sulfids and sulfates are the 

 compounds which occur the most abundantly. Sulfur is 

 also found in small amounts, in combination with carbon, 

 hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen, forming the organic 

 compounds of plant and animal bodies. 



113. Preparation. When taken from the mines, sulfur 

 is mixed with impurities, as sand and clay, which are 

 partially removed by 



heating the sulfur, out 

 of contact with the air, 

 much in the same way 

 that charcoal is pro- 

 duced. The Crude SUlfur Fig ' "--Crystals of sulfur. 



is refined by vaporizing and condensing the volatile sulfur 

 upon the surfaces of brick chambers, the product being 

 known as flowers of sulfur. By drawing off the molten 

 sulfur into wooden molds, roll sulfur, or brimstone, is 

 formed. 



114. Properties. Like carbon and a few other ele- 

 ments, sulfur has a number of allotropic forms. It may 

 assume either an amorphous or several crystalline forms. 

 It melts at a low temperature, and when molten sulfur is 

 poured into water, a rubber-like, amorphous mass is 

 obtained. Sulfur combines with oxygen ; and with the 

 metals it forms sulfids. 



