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sulphurmore about sulphur

sulphur

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sulphur  \Sul"phur\,  n.  [L.,  better  sulfur:  cf  F.  soufre.] 
  1.  (Chem.)  A  nonmetallic  element  occurring  naturally  in  large 
  quantities,  either  combined  as  in  the  sulphides  (as 
  pyrites)  and  sulphates  (as  gypsum),  or  native  in  volcanic 
  regions,  in  vast  beds  mixed  with  gypsum  and  various  earthy 
  materials,  from  which  it  is  melted  out  Symbol  S.  Atomic 
  weight  32.  The  specific  gravity  of  ordinary  octohedral 
  sulphur  is  2.05;  of  prismatic  sulphur,  1.96. 
 
  Note:  It  is  purified  by  distillation,  and  is  obtained  as  a 
  lemon-yellow  powder  (by  sublimation),  called  flour,  or 
  flowers,  of  sulphur,  or  in  cast  sticks  called  roll 
  sulphur,  or  brimstone.  It  burns  with  a  blue  flame  and  a 
  peculiar  suffocating  odor.  It  is  an  ingredient  of 
  gunpowder,  is  used  on  friction  matches,  and  in  medicine 
  (as  a  laxative  and  insecticide),  but  its  chief  use  is 
  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid.  Sulphur  can  be 
  obtained  in  two  crystalline  modifications,  in 
  orthorhombic  octahedra,  or  in  monoclinic  prisms,  the 
  former  of  which  is  the  more  stable  at  ordinary 
  temperatures.  Sulphur  is  the  type  in  its  chemical 
  relations,  of  a  group  of  elements,  including  selenium 
  and  tellurium,  called  collectively  the  sulphur  group 
  or  family.  In  many  respects  sulphur  resembles  oxygen. 
 
  2.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  one  of  numerous  species  of  yellow  or  orange 
  butterflies  of  the  subfamily  {Pierin[ae]};  as  the  clouded 
  sulphur  ({Eurymus,  or  Colias,  philodice}),  which  is  the 
  common  yellow  butterfly  of  the  Eastern  United  States. 
 
  {Amorphous  sulphur}  (Chem.),  an  elastic  variety  of  sulphur  of 
  a  resinous  appearance,  obtained  by  pouring  melted  sulphur 
  into  water.  On  standing,  it  passes  back  into  a  brittle 
  crystalline  modification. 
 
  {Liver  of  sulphur}.  (Old  Chem.)  See  {Hepar}. 
 
  {Sulphur  acid}.  (Chem.)  See  {Sulphacid}. 
 
  {Sulphur  alcohol}.  (Chem.)  See  {Mercaptan}. 
 
  {Sulphur  auratum}  [L.]  (Old  Chem.),  a  golden  yellow  powder, 
  consisting  of  antimonic  sulphide,  {Sb2S5},  --  formerly  a 
  famous  nostrum. 
 
  {Sulphur  base}  (Chem.),  an  alkaline  sulphide  capable  of 
  acting  as  a  base  in  the  formation  of  sulphur  salts 
  according  to  the  old  dual  theory  of  salts.  [Archaic] 
 
  {Sulphur  dioxide}  (Chem.),  a  colorless  gas,  {SO2},  of  a 
  pungent,  suffocating  odor,  produced  by  the  burning  of 
  sulphur.  It  is  employed  chiefly  in  the  production  of 
  sulphuric  acid,  and  as  a  reagent  in  bleaching;  --  called 
  also  {sulphurous  anhydride},  and  formerly  {sulphurous 
  acid}. 
 
  {Sulphur  ether}  (Chem.),  a  sulphide  of  hydrocarbon  radicals, 
  formed  like  the  ordinary  ethers,  which  are  oxides,  but 
  with  sulphur  in  the  place  of  oxygen. 
 
  {Sulphur  salt}  (Chem.),  a  salt  of  a  sulphacid;  a  sulphosalt. 
 
 
  {Sulphur  showers},  showers  of  yellow  pollen,  resembling 
  sulphur  in  appearance,  often  carried  from  pine  forests  by 
  the  wind  to  a  great  distance. 
 
  {Sulphur  trioxide}  (Chem.),  a  white  crystalline  solid,  {SO3}, 
  obtained  by  oxidation  of  sulphur  dioxide.  It  dissolves  in 
  water  with  a  hissing  noise  and  the  production  of  heat, 
  forming  sulphuric  acid,  and  is  employed  as  a  dehydrating 
  agent.  Called  also  {sulphuric  anhydride},  and  formerly 
  {sulphuric  acid}. 
 
  {Sulphur  whale}.  (Zo["o]l.)  See  {Sulphur-bottom}. 
 
  {Vegetable  sulphur}  (Bot.),  lycopodium  powder.  See  under 
  {Lycopodium}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sulphur 
  n  :  an  abundant  tasteless  odorless  multivalent  nonmetallic 
  element;  best  known  in  yellow  crystals;  occurs  in  many 
  sulphide  and  sulphate  minerals  and  even  in  native  form 
  (especially  in  volcanic  regions)  [syn:  {sulfur},  {S},  {atomic 
  number  16}] 
  v  :  treat  with  sulphur  in  order  to  preserve;  "These  dried  fruits 
  are  sulphured" 
 
  From  U.S.  Gazetteer  (1990)  [gazetteer]: 
 
  Sulphur,  IN 
  Zip  code(s):  47174 
  Sulphur,  KY 
  Zip  code(s):  40070 
  Sulphur,  LA  (city,  FIPS  73640) 
  Location:  30.22950  N,  93.35645  W 
  Population  (1990):  20125  (7812  housing  units) 
  Area:  25.2  sq  km  (land),  0.0  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  70663 
  Sulphur,  OK  (city,  FIPS  71350) 
  Location:  34.50673  N,  96.97698  W 
  Population  (1990):  4824  (2199  housing  units) 
  Area:  10.9  sq  km  (land),  0.4  sq  km  (water) 
  Zip  code(s):  73086 
 
  From  Elements  database  20001107  [elements]: 
 
  sulphur 
  Symbol:  S 
  Atomic  number:  16 
  Atomic  weight:  32.064 
  Yellow,  nonmetallic  element  belonging  to  group  16  of  the  periodic  table. 
  It  is  an  essential  element  in  living  organisms,  needed  in  the  amino  acids 
  cysteine  and  methionine,  and  hence  in  many  proteins.  Absorbed  by  plants 
  from  the  soil  as  sulphate  ion.




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