Sulphur

Allotropes of sulphur
Sulphur exists on following allotropic forms :

1. The main use of sulphur is in the preparation of SO2 which is used in the manufacture of
sulphuric acid.
2. Sulphur is used in the manufacture of carbon disulphate, sodium thiosulphate, gun powder,
matches and in fireworks.

3. Sulphur is used on vulcanization of rubber. Natural rubber is soft and sticky. Heating it with
sulphur makes it hard non-sticky and more elastic. This process of heating of natural rubber with
sulphur is known as vulcanization.

4. Sulphur is used as fungicide and insecticide in agriculture and as a disinfectant in medicines.

5. Sulphur is used in ointments for curing skin diseases.

6. Sulphur is used in beauty parlours to give specific shapes to the hair.

 Hydrogen sulphide(H2S)
H2S gas is frequently required for salt analysis in the laboratory. The special apparatus which is
used for the preparation of H2S is called Kipp’s apparatus.

Kipp’s apparatus consist of three bulbs A, B and C. The bulbs are interconnected with each other.
The upper bulb C contains a long stem which reaches upto bulb A. When dil. H2SO4 is poured from bulb
C, liquid level rises in bulb A and reaches upto bulb B just to cover iron sulphide. Then the reaction
between iron sulphide and H2SO4 takes place to form H2S gas. As H2S gas is formed, the pressure inside
bulb B increases and forces the dil. H2SO4 uo into the upper bulb C. Then the contact between FeS and dil.
H2SO4 breaks and the formation of gas is stopped (ceased). When the tap is opened H2S comes out and the
pressure decreases. As a result liquid level again rises at bulb B and H2S gas start to evolve again. In this
way H2S gas is prepared intermittently.

Test of H2S : When a lead acetate paper is dipped in the jar containing H2S gas, it turns to black
due to formation of lead sulphide.
 Physical Properties of H2S :
1. It is colourless gas with rotten egg smell.
2. It is soluble in water.
3. It is poisonous gas.
{In its low concentration it causes nausea, dizziness and headache. At high concentration it is
fatal (i.e. deadly poisonous). Conc. of H2S in air 1 part in 1000 parts of air may be fatal.}
4. It is heavier than air{with vapour density 17}

Chemical Properties of H2S :

1. Acidic character of H2S :

It acts as a weak diprotic (dibasic) acid. It ionizes in two steps to give two protons.

 H2S reacts with base to form two series of salts. Eg.

 H2S reacts with basic oxides to give salt.

2. H2S as reducing agent :-

Sulphur in H2S bears -2 oxidation state which in minimum oxidation state of sulphur. In
chemical reaction, H2S tends to get oxidized . So H2S acts as reducing agent.
 It reduces halogens into halogen acids.
 It reduces sulphur dioxide to sulphur.

 It reduces ferric salt to ferrous salt.

 It reduces conc. HNO3 to NO2.

 It reduces conc. H2SO4 to SO2.

 It reduces acidified potassium permanganate solution and pink colour of KMnO4 is

discharged.
 It reduces acidified K2Cr2O7 solution and orange color of K2Cr2O7 changes to green.

3. H2S as analytical reagent in salt analysis ( Precipitation of metal sulphide) :

H2S gas is used as analytical agent to detect group II basic radicals in acidic medium i.e. HCl and
group IIIB basic radicals in in alkaline medium i.e. NH4Cl and NH4OH.

Group II basic radicals : Group II basic radicals consists of Cu ++ , Hg ++, Pb++, Cd++, Sn++,
As+++, Sb+++, Bi+++. In qualitative salt analysis this group II radicals are precipitated in the form
of their sulphide in acidic medium. By noting the colour of ppt., we can identify the metal
cations.
Group IIIB basic radicals : Group IIIB basic radicals consist of Zn++, Co++, Ni++, Mn++. These
are precipitated by passing H2S in alkaline medium ( i.e. NH4Cl + NH4OH).

Structure of H2S :

Uses of Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) :

 It is used as analytical reagent in laboratory.

 It is used as reducing agent.
 It is used to prepare metallic sulphide, which can be used as pigment.