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</div> </div>  <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1"> <div class="pure-menu pure-menu-open pure-menu-horizontal centre" role="navigation" style="background: #000 url(../_media/elements/discharge/S.png) repeat-y center; background-size:contain;"> <span><a class="pure-menu-heading" href="https://winter.group.shef.ac.uk/webelements/"><img height="30" src="../_media/icons/logo_60.png" alt="WebElements logo"></a> <a class="white" href="./">Sulfur - <sub>16</sub>S</a>  <audio id="myAudio_f"> <source src="../_media/elements/snds_f/S.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">Your user agent does not support the HTML5 Audio element. </audio> <button class="pure-button p_button" style=" display: inline;" type="button" onclick="audf_play_pause()"> 🔊  </button> <script> function audf_play_pause() { var myAudiof = document.getElementById("myAudio_f"); if (myAudiof.paused) { myAudiof.play(); } else { myAudiof.pause(); }} </script></span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="main">  <div class="pure-u-1 pure-u-sm-1-1"> 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<input type="text" name="q" size="28"> <input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search"> </div> </form> <script> </script> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1 pure-u-sm-1-1"> <h1 class="p">Sulfur - <sub><small>16</small></sub>S: biological information</h1> <div class="pure-menu pure-menu-horizontal pure-menu-scrollable"> <ul class="pure-menu-list z_menu"> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a href="../sulfur/" class="pure-menu-link">▸▸ S Essentials</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/physics.html">Physical properties</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/atoms.html">Electron shell data</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/atom_sizes.html">Atom sizes</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/electronegativity.html">Electronegativity</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/isotopes.html" >Isotopes and NMR</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/crystal_structure.html">Crystal structure</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/thermochemistry.html">Thermochemistry</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/history.html">History</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/uses.html">Uses</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/geology.html">Geology</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/biology.html">Biology</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/compounds.html">Binary compounds</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/compound_properties.html" >Compound properties</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/chemistry.html">Element reactions</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item p"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="../sulfur/contents.html">List all S properties</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <p class="p_first">Sulphur is essential to life. It is a minor constituent of fats, body fluids, and skeletal minerals. Sulphur is a key component in most proteins since it is contained in the amino acids methionine and cysteine. Sulphur-sulphur interactions are important in determining protein tertiary structure. Hydrogen sulphide (H<sub>2</sub>S) replaces H<sub>2</sub>O in the photosynthesis of some bacteria. In people, hydrogen sulphide in very small concentrations can be metabolized, but in higher concentrations it kills quickly by preventing respiration. It is insidious in that it deadens the sense of smell quickly, meaning victims may be unaware of its presence. It is more toxic than cyanide. Remarkably, sulphuric acid (H<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub>) is present in the digestive fluids of sea squirts (ascidians).</p> <h2 class="p">Levels in humans</h2> <p>The <a href="../periodicity/abund_humans/">abundances of the elements in humans</a>.</p> <ul> <li><a href="../periodicity/abund_humans/">Human abundance by weight</a>: 2000000 ppb by weight</li> <li><a href="../periodicity/abund_humans_a/">Human abundance by atoms</a>: 390000 atoms relative to C = 1000000</li> </ul> <h2 class="p">How much sulfur is in your body? Find out here.</h2> <p class="p_first">You can use this form to calculate how much sulfur your body contains. Enter your weight in either kilograms or pounds and click the "Calculate" button. You must enter a number, not text! <strong>Elements for which there are no data will always give a value of zero for the weight, no matter what you put in the weight box.</strong></p> <form name="wtform" method="post" action="calc"> <table class="pure-table"> <caption>Calculate how much sulfur is in your body</caption> <tr><td>Enter your weight here: <input name="weight" type="text" value="0" size="10" title="Enter your weight here (must be a number!)" /> <select name="unit"><option value="1">kilograms</option><option value="2.2">pounds</option></select> <input type="button" value="Calculate!" onclick="calculate()" /></td> <td>You contain about :<input name="content" type="text" value="0" size="10" /> grams of sulfur</td></tr> </table> </form> <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1 pure-u-sm-1-1"> <script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>  <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-9334432533380510" data-ad-slot="4479092381" data-ad-format="auto"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </div> <figure><img class="pure-img" src= "../_media/periodicity/tables/periodic_table_heatscape_white/abund_humans_l_heat_w.png" alt="Image showing periodicity of the logarithm of the abundance of the chemical elements as a heat map on a periodic table grid." /><figcaption>Image showing periodicity of the logarithm of the abundance of the chemical elements as a heat map on a periodic table grid.</figcaption></figure> <figure><img class="pure-img" src= "../_media/periodicity/tables/periodic_table_cityscape_black/abund_humans_l_city_b.png" alt="Image showing periodicity of the logarithm of the abundance of the chemical elements as a cityscape on a periodic table grid." /><figcaption>Image showing periodicity of the logarithm of the abundance of the chemical elements as a cityscape on a periodic table grid.</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="p">Hazards and Risks</h2> <p class="p_first"><a href="../periodicity/hazards/">Hazards and risks</a> associated with sulfur: <p class="p_first">Elemental sulphur is relatively harmless, but is very toxic to many bacteria and fungi. Sulphur dust irritates eyes and eyelids. </p> <p>Carbon disulphide, hydrogen sulphide, and sulphur dioxide should be handled extremely carefully. Hydrogen sulphide in very small concentrations can be metabolised, but in higher concentrations it can cause death quickly by respiratory paralysis. It is insidious in that it quickly deadens the sense of smell and is more toxic than cyanide. Sulphur dioxide is a dangerous component in atmospheric air pollution and is one of the factors responsible for acid rain.</p> <p>Carbon disulphide, CS<sub>2</sub>, is an important industrial solvent. It must be handled carefully since it is poisonous. It is easily absorbed through skin and by inhalation. It causes problems to the central nervous system.</p> <h2 class="p">References</h2> <ul> <li>J.E. Huheey, E.A. Keiter, and R.L. Keiter in <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/006042995X/webelements">Inorganic Chemistry : Principles of Structure and Reactivity</a></em>, 4th edition, HarperCollins, New York, USA, 1993.</li> <li> S. Budavari (Ed.) in <em>The Merck Index</em>, 11th ed., Merck, USA, 1989.</li> <li> N.N. Greenwood and A. Earnshaw in <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0750633654/webelements">Chemistry of the Elements</a></em>, 2nd edition, Butterworth, UK, 1997.</li> </ul> </main> <div id="footer"> <footer> <div class="footer"> <div class="pure-g"> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Key properties</li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/eneg_pauling/">Electronegativity </a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/melting_point/">Melting point</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/density/">Density </a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/molar_volume/">Molar volume</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/ionis_energy_1/">Ionization energy (1st)</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/covalent_radius/">Covalent radius</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/metallic_radius/">Metallic radius</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/periodicity/abund_crust/">Abundance: earth's crust</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Shop</li> <li class="pure-menu-item">Sorry, shop closed</li> </ul> </div> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Social</li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.facebook.com/webelements.periodic.table">Facebook</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://twitter.com/periodic_table">Twitter</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.pinterest.com/periodictable/">Pinterest</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="pure-u-1-2 pure-u-sm-1-2 pure-u-lg-1-4 pure-menu custom-restricted-width"> <ul class="pure-menu-list"> <li class="pure-menu-heading footer_h">Administration</li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/your-privacy/" title="Your privacy">Privacy</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/about-webelements/" title="About WebElements">About</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/webelements-and-copyright/" title="Copyright information about WebElements">Copyright</a></li> <li class="pure-menu-item"><a class="pure-menu-link" href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/acknowledgements/" title="Acknowledgements">Thanks...</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <address> <p> <a href="https://www.webelements.com/"><img class="logo_m" src="../_media/icons/logo_60.png" alt="WebElements home" /></a><br /> <strong>WebElements:</strong> THE periodic table on the WWW [<a href="https://www.webelements.com/">www.webelements.com</a>]<br /> <a href="https://www.webelements.com/nexus/webelements-and-copyright/">Copyright </a> 1993-2024 <a href="https://winter.group.shef.ac.uk/">Mark Winter</a> [ <a href="https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/chemistry/">The University of Sheffield </a> and WebElements Ltd, UK]. 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