Name       : Sulfur
Symbol     : S
Atomic #   : 16
Atom weight: 32.06
Melting P. : 112.8 in rhombic form, 119.0 in monoclinic form
Boiling P. : 4.6
Oxidation  : -2, +4, +6
Pronounced : SUL-fer
From       : Latin sulphus, "sulfur"
Identified : Antoine Lavoisier in 1777
Appearance : Tasteless, odorless, light-yellow, brittle solid
Note       : The tenth most abundant atom in the cosmos.

[Properties]

  Sulfur, even in its pure elemental form, is a rather common substance. It
is generally characterized as a pale yellow, brittle solid that has no
taste. It is not supposed to have an odor, either; but common experience
suggests otherwise. Actually, pure sulfur has no odor; the distinctive,
biting aroma is really that of sulfur dioxide which forms in small amounts
when sulfur comes into contact with oxygen and moisture in the air.
  Like ordinary water, sulfur is a commonplace substance that exhibits a
confusing array of unusual characteristics. Even though sulfur has been
studied and used since ancient times, there are still experts in the world
who are devoting their professional lives to the study of this element.
  Sulfur is a nonmetal. It is one of the oxygen elements in Group VIA on
the periodic table.
  Sulfur exists in three allotopic forms: orthorhombic, monoclinic, and
amorphous. As their names suggest, orthorhombic and monoclinic sulfur are
crystalline forms. The orthorhombic form is the most common because it is
the most stable. Monoclinic sulfur is stable only between 96 and 119
degrees; it forms naturally as molten sulfur and gradually cools through
that temperature range. Below 90 degree, monoclinic sulfur quickly returns
to the orthorhomic form.
  Amorphous, or plastic, sulfur is formed by rapidly cooling molten sulfur
by dribbling molten sulfur into cold water, for example. Amorphous sulfur
has no crystalline form; in fact it is a soft, elastic material. It is 
difficult to maintain sulfur in its amorphous form because it gradually
reverts to the more stable orthorhombic form.