SULPHUR (S), commohly called brimstone, is a solid elementary non-metallio body, which has been known from the most remote antiquity. The former tern, is derived from sal salt, and coop fire ; the latter brennedone or bursistone, both in allusion to its well-known pro perty of ready inflammability. It is met with in the pure state and in various forms of combination : thus it is found combined with numerous metals and in immense quantity with iron, formiog the sulphide and bisulphido ; with copper, lead, antimony, rte., constituting the principal ores of these metals : it is also found largely combined with oxygen, forming sulphuric acid, which is generally united with an earthy base, as with lime, constitntiog sulphate of lime, or gypsum; and with baryta, strontla, and magnesia, giving rise to the sulphates of those bases. It occurs nlso, but in smaller quantity,—and principally in mineral waters, such as those of Harrowgate,—eombined with I hydrogen, the compound being sulphuretted hydrogen gas, or hydro sulphuric acid. Sulphur is a constituent of some animal substances, as albumen, urine, &c. It is found also in certain plants : in the natural order Liliacece, as in garlic; Crucifene,as in mustard ; and Umbellifene, 3s in Asafcrtida.
The chief source of this element is native sulphur, tho most remark able deposits of which occur iu Sicily, whence an immense quantity is imported into this country. It occurs also in the fissures of lava near the craters of volcanoes, in Italy, Guadaloupe, Nevis, Iceland, and the volcanoes of the Cordilleras. [Summit, in NAT. HIST. Div.] Sulphur is separated from the grosser impurities by crude processes of fusion and distillation, performed soon after it is collected. That Sent to Great Britain is, however, finally purified in this country, and has different forms given to it according to circumstinces. What is called refuted sulphur is that purified by distillation in a largo cast-iron still, and condensed in a receiver kept cooL When the vaporised sulphur is condensed in a largo chamber, it has the form of powder, and is called ittblinted sulphur orsforaert of sulphur; but as the walls of the chamber get bet, this sulphur melts, collects on the floor, and is run off into Wooden moulds, the product being roll or stick sulphur. The residue iu the retort still contains sulphur, and, under, the name of sulphur virus's or black sulphur, is occasionally used as a cattle medicine and for dressing mouldy hops.
Precipitated sulphur or milk of sulphur, is a finely divided form of the element thrown down on adding a strong solution of polysulphide of calcium, sodium, or potassium to dilute hydrochloric acid ; sulphuric acid is sometimes used instead of hydrochloric, sulphate of lime being thereby precipitated along with the sulphur, and the weight of the latter thus fraudulently increased. This adulteration may readily be
detected on heating a little of the suspected specimen, when the sulphur being volatile will be expelled, and the sulphate of lime left. behind. The microscope also will at once detect the falsification, for the sulphur has a line granular appearance, while the gypsum is iu Well defined crystals.
Sulphur is sometimes prepared from iron pyrites (FeS,), by distil lation. One third of the sulphur present in the ore is volatilised and condensed in the usual way, while magnetic pyrites (Fe,S,) remains in the retort. Sulphide of copper is also a source of sulphur, the latter being a sort of bye-product, although an important one, in the pre liminary roasting operations connected with copper smelting.
Sulphur has already been referred to [ALLoTnorY] as existing in three allotropic states. The first form (Sa) is that of an octohedral crystal with a rhombic base, and is the condition in which it occurs in nature. lt, is artificially obtained in the same form, but more trans parent on allowing its solution in chloride of sulphur or bisulphide of carbon to evaporate spontaneously ; its specific gravity is and it fuses at 239" Fahr. The second form (Se) occurs in transparent acicular crystals of dark yellow colour. To obtain it, a quantity of sulphur is melted and slowly cooled; when the outer portions have solidified, holes afro made in the crust, and the still liquid sulphur in the interior is poured out ; on breaking open the shell its surface will be found to contain the needles in question. They are not per manent, hut soon change into the light yellow semi-opaque sulphur (a) ; the acicular form is, however, still retained, although each needle is a congeries of minute rhombic octohedra. Much beat is evolved during the transformation. The third state is very peculiar, and is brought about as follows :—Thc fusing-point of sulphur is 239°, and between this and 280° it possesses the highest degree of fluidity : at it begins to thicken, and at is so tenacious, that it will scarcely flow from an inverted vessel; from this to 600°, which is its boiling point, it again becomes liquid, but not so perfectly so as at 280°. If now it be poured into water it becomes a brown pasty mass, which readily receives and retains any form given to it, and hence is employed in taking casts. Magnus has shown that this deepening in colour is due to a fourth modification of sulphur, which is black; it is formed on many times repeating the process of heating a quantity of sulphur to 600° Fehr., and suddenly cooling in cold water.