sulphur

Everyday

1. Sulphur is a yellow chemical element, a solid that is not a metal; its symbol is S. tree →
2. Sulphur and many of its compounds have a strong smell, like rotten eggs (really the gas hydrogen sulphide), and sulphur burns with a blue flame. tree →
3. Sulphur yellow is a bright pale yellow colour. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons sulphur is found around volcanoes and hot springs, is used to make matches, fireworks, gunpowder and fertilisers, and is in the periodic table. Burning fossil fuels that contain sulphur makes acid rain. In the Bible and old stories, «fire and brimstone» uses an old name for sulphur. Phrases: sulphur dioxide, sulphur smell, sulphur springs, smells of sulphur.

Examples

• Sulphur is a yellow element found near volcanoes. tree →
• The hot springs smelled of sulphur. tree →
• The symbol for sulphur is S. tree →
• Gunpowder contains sulphur, charcoal and saltpetre. tree →
• Sulphur burns with a blue flame. tree →
• Burning coal can release sulphur, which causes acid rain. tree →
• Brimstone is an old word for sulphur. tree →
• The match head is coated with chemicals that include sulphur. tree →
• The earth itself was the finest sand, but blue as the flame of burning sulphur. tree →

Note

Uncountable: «Sulphur is yellow», not «a sulphur». UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ traditionally spell it «sulphur»; the USA and science books worldwide now use «sulfur» (the official chemistry spelling). Both mean the same. The rotten-egg smell is really from sulphur compounds such as hydrogen sulphide; pure sulphur has little smell.