Question

Difficulty: EasySulfur Allotropes, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Sulfur(IV) Oxide

Complete the following statement regarding the allotropic transition of sulfur by filling in the blank with the correct term.

Answer:At temperatures above 96C96^\circ\text{C}, rhombic sulfur changes reversibly into 【monoclinic】 sulfur.

Answer

Monoclinic (or prismatic) sulfur is the stable crystalline allotrope of sulfur above the transition temperature of 96C96^\circ\text{C}.
Rhombic sulfur (α\alpha-sulfur) is stable at room temperature up to 96C96^\circ\text{C}. When heated above this transition temperature (96C96^\circ\text{C}), it slowly transforms into monoclinic sulfur (β\beta-sulfur), which remains stable up to its melting point.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the two main crystalline allotropes of sulfur and their transition temperature.
Rhombic sulfur (alpha-sulfur) and monoclinic sulfur (beta-sulfur) exist in dynamic equilibrium at the transition temperature of 96C96^\circ\text{C}.
Sulfur exhibits enantiotropic allotropy where the stability of each crystalline form depends on temperature.
2
Determine which allotrope is stable above 96C96^\circ\text{C}.
Monoclinic (prismatic) sulfur is stable between 96C96^\circ\text{C} and its melting point of 119C119^\circ\text{C}.
Below 96C96^\circ\text{C}, rhombic sulfur is the stable form; heating it above 96C96^\circ\text{C} transforms it into monoclinic sulfur.

Key Concept

Transition temperature of sulfur allotropes
Estimated Time:45s
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