C12. Sulfur

Question 1

Uses of sulfur

Answer 1

1. Make sulfuric acid
2. To toughen rubber (eg. car tyres) in a process called vulcanisation
3. To make drugs, pesticides, dyes, matches, paper
4. To make cosmetics, shampoos, body lotions
5. Added to cement to make sulfur concrete that is not attacked by acid

Question 2

Uses of sulfur dioxide

Answer 2

1. Make sulfuric acid
2. As a food preservative as sulfur dioxide can kill bacteria
3. Acts as a bleach so is used to bleach wood pulp for making paper

Question 3

Uses of sulfuric acid

Answer 3

1. Fertilisers
2. Paints, pigments, dyestuffs
3. Fibres and plastics
4. Soaps and detergents
5. In car batteries

Question 4

Uses of concentrated sulfuric acid

Answer 4

1. As a dehydrating agent

2. As a oxidising agent

Question 5

Sources of sulfur

Answer 5

1. Sulfur compounds in petroleum and natural gas
2. Metal sulfide ores
   - lead ore galena, ie. lead(II) sulfide
   - zinc blende, ie. zinc sulfide
3. Underground sulfur beds and around volcanoes