List of used abbreviations - RosDok - Universität Rostock
List of used abbreviations - RosDok - Universität Rostock
List of used abbreviations - RosDok - Universität Rostock
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General Introduction<br />
Because sulfur is directly below oxygen in the periodic table, these elements have<br />
similar electron configurations. As a result, sulfur forms many compounds that are<br />
analogs <strong>of</strong> oxygen compounds. There are four principal differences between the<br />
chemistry <strong>of</strong> sulfur and oxygen: O=O double bonds are much stronger than S=S<br />
double bonds. S-S single bonds are almost twice as strong as O-O single bonds.<br />
Sulfur (EN = 2.58) is much less electronegative than oxygen (EN = 3.44). Sulfur can<br />
expand its valence shell to hold more than eight electrons, but oxygen cannot.<br />
The C-S bond is both longer, because S is larger, and weaker than C-C bonds.<br />
Selected bond lengths in sulfur compounds are 183 pm for the S-C single bond in<br />
methanethiol and 173 pm in thiophene. 1<br />
Some applications <strong>of</strong> sulphur can be summarized as follows: Sulfur is mostly <strong>used</strong> for<br />
the production <strong>of</strong> sulfuric acid, H2SO4. Most sulfur is mined using the Frasch process.<br />
Sulfur is, for example, <strong>used</strong> for the synthesis <strong>of</strong> sulfuric acid which is the most<br />
abundantly produced chemical in the United States and manufactured by the Contact<br />
process. Most (about 70%) <strong>of</strong> the sulfuric acid produced in the world is <strong>used</strong> in the<br />
fertilizer industry. Sulfuric acid can act as a strong acid, as a dehydrating agent, and<br />
as an oxidizing agent.<br />
Although there is no known dietary requirement for inorganic sulfur, it is an essential<br />
element for all animal species as they all require the sulfur-containing amino acid<br />
methionine. There are three predominant forms <strong>of</strong> organic sulfur in animals and<br />
6