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Questions and Answers
Pure sulfur is a tasteless, odorless, brittle solid that is pale ______ in color.
yellow
Sulfur was mined near Mount Etna in ______ and used for bleaching cloth and preserving wine.
Sicily
Antoine Lavoisier thought that sulfur was an ______, but in 1808 Humphry Davy said it contained hydrogen.
element
For centuries, sulfur along with mercury and salt, was believed to be a component of all ______.
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When Louis-Josef Gay-Lussac and Louis-Jacques Thénard proved it to be an ______ the following year, Davy eventually agreed.
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Study Notes
Sulfur - History and Properties
- Sulfur was known to the ancient Greeks, who used it as a fumigant.
Ancient Uses of Sulfur
- Sulfur was mined near Mount Etna in Sicily for various uses, including:
- Bleaching cloth by burning it to form sulfur dioxide.
- Preserving wine by allowing sulfur dioxide to be absorbed by grape juice.
Early Misconceptions about Sulfur
- For centuries, sulfur, along with mercury and salt, was believed to be a component of all metals and was a basis for alchemy.
Identification as an Element
- Antoine Lavoisier thought sulfur was an element, but Humphry Davy believed it contained hydrogen in 1808.
- Louis-Josef Gay-Lussac and Louis-Jacques Thénard proved sulfur to be an element in 1809, and Davy eventually agreed.
Properties of Sulfur
- Sulfur is a nonmetallic chemical element belonging to the oxygen group.
- It is one of the most reactive of the elements.
- Pure sulfur is a tasteless, odorless, brittle solid that is pale yellow in color.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the fascinating history of sulfur, from its use in ancient Greece as a fumigant to its role in bleaching cloth and preserving wine. Learn about its association with mercury and salt in this engaging quiz.
