Sulphur

(suV-fur) [L., probably from Skt., culvari, sulphur]. A nonmetallic element found native in volcanic regions (volcanic S. ), and occurring combined with several metals, especially iron and copper, in the form of sulphids, called iron and copper pyrites. S. can exist in various allotropic forms. The ordinary S. is a yellow, brittle solid, having a specific gravity of 2, and an atomic weight of 31.98. Symbol S. Its valence is two, four, and six. S. combines with oxygen to form sulphurous oxid (S. dioxid), S02, and sulphuric oxid (S. trioxid), S03, which by uniting with water form corresponding acids — sulphurous acid, H2S03, and sulphuric acid, H2S04. Other acids are also formed: hyposulphurous acid, H2S02, thiosulphuric acid, H2S203, and a series of acids termed thionic acids, viz., H2S206, H2S306, H2S406, and.H2S506. With hydrogen S. forms the offensively smelling gas, hydrogen sulphid (hydrosulphuric acid or sulphureted hydrogen), H2S. With metals and other bases it forms sulphids. S. is laxative and diaphoretic. It has been used in hemorrhoids, chronic rheumatism, gout, and locally in diphtheria and in various diseases of the skin, especially acne and scabies. S. is used in the form of S. lotum (U. S. P.), washed sulphur, dose g -^ (2.0-16.0); S. prsecipitatum (U. S. P., B. P.), dose ch682.xhtml j 608