List of used abbreviations - RosDok - Universität Rostock

General Introduction
Because sulfur is directly below oxygen in the periodic table, these elements have
similar electron configurations. As a result, sulfur forms many compounds that are
analogs of oxygen compounds. There are four principal differences between the
chemistry of sulfur and oxygen: O=O double bonds are much stronger than S=S
double bonds. S-S single bonds are almost twice as strong as O-O single bonds.
Sulfur (EN = 2.58) is much less electronegative than oxygen (EN = 3.44). Sulfur can
expand its valence shell to hold more than eight electrons, but oxygen cannot.
The C-S bond is both longer, because S is larger, and weaker than C-C bonds.
Selected bond lengths in sulfur compounds are 183 pm for the S-C single bond in
methanethiol and 173 pm in thiophene. 1
Some applications of sulphur can be summarized as follows: Sulfur is mostly used for
the production of sulfuric acid, H2SO4. Most sulfur is mined using the Frasch process.
Sulfur is, for example, used for the synthesis of sulfuric acid which is the most
abundantly produced chemical in the United States and manufactured by the Contact
process. Most (about 70%) of the sulfuric acid produced in the world is used in the
fertilizer industry. Sulfuric acid can act as a strong acid, as a dehydrating agent, and
as an oxidizing agent.
Although there is no known dietary requirement for inorganic sulfur, it is an essential
element for all animal species as they all require the sulfur-containing amino acid
methionine. There are three predominant forms of organic sulfur in animals and
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