Sulphur

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Sulphur is represented by the symbol 'S' in the periodic table and has an atomic number of 16. The name may have been derived from the Arabic ‘sufra’ meaning yellow, or the Sanskrit ‘shulbari’ meaning enemy (ari) of copper (shulba)[1]. It is a naturally occuring element which is frequently found and regarded as an essential element for life. It is found in the amino acids methionine and cysteine. In cysteine the - SH group reacts with another -SH group on a different cysteine forming a disulphide bond [2]

When combined with oxygen, sulphur can form a dioxide or trioxide.

References

  1. G. Eggert, M. Weichert, H. Euler, B. Barbier, Some news about Black Spots., 2004, Proceedings of Metal, p142 (pdf download).
  2. Berg J.,Tymoczko J. and Stryer L. (2012) Biochemistry. 7th edition, Basinstoke: Freeman.