Claus process: H2S in sour gas is partly burned to SO2, and the two are then reacted over an alumina catalyst: 2 H2S + SO2 → 3 S + 2 H2O; molten sulfur is drawn off.
Research Elements S · atomic number 16 Reactive nonmetal · period 3, group 16 [Ne] 3s2 3p4 Shells: 2, 8, 6 Valence electrons: 6 in the outer shell (3s2 3p4) Green dots are the outer shell's s and p electrons. Softer green dots are the d electrons of transition metals, and the d and f electrons of lanthanides and actinides: they often take part in bonding, but not always. Grey dots are the core. Ground-state configuration from the NIST Atomic Spectra Database (A. Kramida, Yu. Ralchenko, J. Reader and the NIST ASD Team). Abundance is the mole fraction of the element found as that isotope on Earth; digits in parentheses are the uncertainty in the last digits. Masses and abundances from NIST, Atomic Weights and Isotopic Compositions (J. S. Coursey, D. J. Schwab, J. J. Tsai and R. A. Dragoset, National Institute of Standards and Technology).Sulfur
Electrons
How it's obtained
Natural isotopes
Isotope Relative atomic mass Abundance 32S 31.9720711744(14) 0.9499(26) 33S 32.9714589098(15) 0.0075(2) 34S 33.967867004(47) 0.0425(24) 36S 35.96708071(20) 0.0001(1) Compounds