Draeger
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Melting sulfur - can SO2 be created?
Basically, I was just wondering if melting sulfur would generate any toxic gasses, which I am guessing would just be SO2, hence the title. Maybe
melting it under a layer of water (which would boil, but if it's enough it might be okay for my purposes?) would help catch any SO2 that might be
evolved?
Can't do anything outside or anywhere ventilated, by the way.
Collected elements:
Al, Cu, Ga, C (coal), S, Zn, Na
Collected compounds:
Inorganic:
NaOH; NaHCO3; MnCl2; MnCO3; CuSO4; FeSO4; aq. 30-33% HCl; aq. NaClO; aq. 9,5% ammonia; aq. 94-96% H2SO4; aq. 3% H2O2
Organic:
citric acid, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, petroleum, mineral oil
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beerwiz
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Sulfur melts at 115.21°C. I melted it recently and I didn't notice any SO2. I kept the melt going for a full month and when I opened the flask I was
surprised that it smelled like acetic acid (vinegar).
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Draeger
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Location: North-Rhine Westfalia, Germany
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Quote: Originally posted by beerwiz  | | Sulfur melts at 115.21°C. I melted it recently and I didn't notice any SO2. I kept the melt going for a full month and when I opened the flask I was
surprised that it smelled like acetic acid (vinegar). |
Okay. Thanks.
Collected elements:
Al, Cu, Ga, C (coal), S, Zn, Na
Collected compounds:
Inorganic:
NaOH; NaHCO3; MnCl2; MnCO3; CuSO4; FeSO4; aq. 30-33% HCl; aq. NaClO; aq. 9,5% ammonia; aq. 94-96% H2SO4; aq. 3% H2O2
Organic:
citric acid, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, petroleum, mineral oil
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DraconicAcid
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As long as it doesn't catch fire, it's fine.
Please remember: "Filtrate" is not a verb.
Write up your lab reports the way your instructor wants them, not the way your ex-instructor wants them.
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chornedsnorkack
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This:
http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics1166.htm
quotes flashpoint as +160 Celsius an autoignition temperature as +230 Celsius.
How much quiet oxidation takes place below the runaway autoignition temperature?
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Draeger
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Location: North-Rhine Westfalia, Germany
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Mood: Slowly getting ready for new projects
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I started my experiment, and just a few seconds into heating it, far from melting the sulfur, I smelt a lot of what I assume to be sulfur dioxide, so
I cancelled it. I have no idea what happened there.
Collected elements:
Al, Cu, Ga, C (coal), S, Zn, Na
Collected compounds:
Inorganic:
NaOH; NaHCO3; MnCl2; MnCO3; CuSO4; FeSO4; aq. 30-33% HCl; aq. NaClO; aq. 9,5% ammonia; aq. 94-96% H2SO4; aq. 3% H2O2
Organic:
citric acid, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, petroleum, mineral oil
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beerwiz
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I was running some sulfur experiments today, and I put sulfur in a covered crucible and heated it to 400'C for 2 hours. When I opened the crucible I
was surprised that the sulfur was burning inside, kept wondering how it caught fire but the 160'C autoignition explains it.
[Edited on 31-5-2020 by beerwiz]
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Ubya
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Location: Rome-Italy
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Mood: I'm a maddo scientisto!!!
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| Quote: Originally posted by Draeger | | I started my experiment, and just a few seconds into heating it, far from melting the sulfur, I smelt a lot of what I assume to be sulfur dioxide, so
I cancelled it. I have no idea what happened there. |
does the SO2 you are smelling, smells like rotten eggs?
what's your source of sulphur? it is probably contaminated with something that decomposes to SO2 (or H2S) with minimal heating
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feel free to correct my grammar, or any mistakes i make
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chornedsnorkack
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Registered: 16-2-2012
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Molten sulphur is a good solvent for hydrogen sulphide. Hydrogen sulphide appreciably changes properties of molten sulphur and is commonly found
dissolved in molten sulphur.
Sulphur melting equilibrates slowly. On fast melting, sulphur melts at 120 Celsius and refreezes at 120 Celsius if promptly cooled back. On prolonged
heating, the melting point drops and stabilizes at 115 Celsius.
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Draeger
Hazard to Others
Posts: 185
Registered: 31-1-2020
Location: North-Rhine Westfalia, Germany
Member Is Offline
Mood: Slowly getting ready for new projects
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| Quote: Originally posted by Ubya | | Quote: Originally posted by Draeger | | I started my experiment, and just a few seconds into heating it, far from melting the sulfur, I smelt a lot of what I assume to be sulfur dioxide, so
I cancelled it. I have no idea what happened there. |
does the SO2 you are smelling, smells like rotten eggs?
what's your source of sulphur? it is probably contaminated with something that decomposes to SO2 (or H2S) with minimal heating |
Nope, it's not H2S. It smells like the ambient smell sulfur has.
My sulfur is sulfur granules from Onyxmet, 99,95% purity. I thought granules would be easier to use than a powder. I don't really have the best place
to work with chemicals.
Collected elements:
Al, Cu, Ga, C (coal), S, Zn, Na
Collected compounds:
Inorganic:
NaOH; NaHCO3; MnCl2; MnCO3; CuSO4; FeSO4; aq. 30-33% HCl; aq. NaClO; aq. 9,5% ammonia; aq. 94-96% H2SO4; aq. 3% H2O2
Organic:
citric acid, sodium acetate, sodium citrate, petroleum, mineral oil
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Herr Haber
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I wouldnt worry if I were you.
You're probably only melting a few grams at a time and the amount of SO2 you'd generate when it catches fire shouldnt worry you if you are outside or
just on the edge of the window.
But you mentioned water ! There are a few interesting things you can do with molten sulphur and water. Try pouring it slowly in a long enough column
and make beads.
If you have a Dremel you can make some pearls and give someone the chemist's equivalent of a noodle necklace 
Also note what happens when the temperature goes up (and before ignition).
The spirit of adventure was upon me. Having nitric acid and copper, I had only to learn what the words 'act upon' meant. - Ira Remsen
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