<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Sulphur is a highly reactive element, and is therefore able to enter into a great variety of chemical combinations, resulting in the formation of compounds of widely differing properties. Reactions involving sulphur, and the compounds which they produce, have stimulated and inspired people throughout the ages. Sulphur has always been associated with volcanoes, fires and smells. However, its story goes much further. Sulphur is present in thousands of products of the chemical industry, which are in everyday use. These include car batteries, car tyres, matches, paints, paper, textiles, food, detergents and pharmaceuticals. In part 1 of this essay, the evolution of the role of sulphur in the history of mankind is explained, through the eyes of etymology, geology, literature, art, and chemistry. In part 2 the role of sulphur in biochemistry and chemical technology is reviewed. In so doing, a case is established, to show that sulphur is the most extraordinary substance known to Man.</p>
</abstract>

Sulphur is a highly reactive element, and is therefore able to enter into a great variety of chemical combinations, resulting in the formation of compounds of widely differing properties. Reactions involving sulphur, and the compounds which they produce, have stimulated and inspired people throughout the ages. Sulphur has always been associated with volcanoes, fires and smells. However, its story goes much further. Sulphur is present in thousands of products of the chemical industry, which are in everyday use. These include car batteries, car tyres, matches, paints, paper, textiles, food, detergents and pharmaceuticals. In part 1 of this essay, the evolution of the role of sulphur in the history of mankind is explained, through the eyes of etymology, geology, literature, art, and chemistry. In part 2 the role of sulphur in biochemistry and chemical technology is reviewed. In so doing, a case is established, to show that sulphur is the most extraordinary substance known to Man.

The Extraordinary World of Sulphur Part 1

Chemistry-Didactics-Ecology-Metrology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"The Extraordinary World of Sulphur Part 1"}

Sulphur is a highly reactive element, and is therefore able to enter into a great variety of chemical combinations, resulting in the formation of compounds of...

The Extraordinary World of Sulphur Part 1

Published Online: Jan 25, 2024

Page range: 5 - 38

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cdem-2023-0002

Keywords
sulphur, sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide, alchemy, chemistry, technology

© 2023 Zbigniew A. Szydło et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Extraordinary World of Sulphur Part 1

Published Online: Jan 25, 2024

Page range: 5 - 38

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/cdem-2023-0002

Keywordssulphur, sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide, alchemy, chemistry, technology

© 2023 Zbigniew A. Szydło et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
sulphur, sulphuric acid, sulphur dioxide, alchemy, chemistry, technology