Sulfur

Harm score: 1 (Natural substances)

Sulfur, also known as honey bush, is a chemical element found in group 16, period three, block p, and is classified in the periodic table of elements under atomic number 16. Its name comes from the Latin word "sulphur", meaning "to burn". It is considered one of the most important components of life because it is part of the two essential amino acids. Sulfur comes in four allotropic forms, with the ϐ-S8 modification being the stable and most common form of sulfur on Earth.

Sulfur is used in a wide variety of products and industries. It is found in many fertiliser formulations because plants need sulphur for their growth. In medicine, sulphur has antibacterial properties and is therefore used in the treatment of acne or psoriasis and also for its antifungal properties. It is also used in the cosmetics industry, particularly in products for the care of problematic skin. In industry, sulphur is mainly used in the production of sulphuric acid, which is one of the most important industrial chemicals ever. It also has important applications in gas purification, where it removes sulphates. Sulphur is also used in rubber production, where the vulcanisation process uses heat and pressure to create sulphur bridges between the rubber polymers, improving the properties of the final product.