The Pros And Cons Of Sulfur

I started with answering the question of what sulfur is. Sulfur is known for being a natural element, and being used as a chemical. It is commonly seen as a yellow substance that comes in a crystalized form. It is found in volcanic areas, and also deep underneath the ground. My research tells me it makes up “0.05% of the Earth’s crust” (Net). When burned, its distinctive odor when burned makes it hard to swallow, and can make one suffocate. It has the property of burning very easily, and has corrosive quality with its distinctive “blue flame” (dictionary). These qualities make it very useful in many products.

Sulfur resides in many products, and all of these products serve different purposes. Sulfur is found in matches and gunpowder. Again,
It is often regarded as the most “important chemical manufactured by western civilizations” (rsc). You can find sulfuric acid in fertilizers and batteries. For batteries, the lead used in batteries reacts with this acid and can generate power. (Hunker) With these two together, they produce electrons with enough electro-negative energy to power lots of appliances we use today. For fertilizers, can help plants grow with the help of sulfuric acid. Sulfuric acid on its own is very dangerous, and hard to handle. Also, plants cannot absorb sulfuric acid very easily on their own. In order for plants to absorb it, and have it safely handled by humans, phosphorous must be chemically reacted. This reaction with phosphorous, and sulfuric acid, makes phosphoric acid. Manufactures will use this acid to aid them in making fertilizers, thus making stronger and healthier plants. Without sulfur, the mass production of both batteries and fertilizers would not be possible. We would not have phones or surplus of vegetables for supermarkets. Also, I never would have thought that with sulfurs corrosive and burnable qualities that it would serve a purpose in a living
Sulfur comprises a lot of the human body since it’s the one of “most abundant [minerals] in the body” (healthfree). You need a lot of sulfur to make proteins. If the body cannot make enough proteins, living beings cannot function. Which means living beings will not have enzymes, hormones, tissue, or hemoglobin. Living beings need hormones to carry out chemical reactions. They also need hormones so that they carry out messages between cells. Proteins also help make up tissue in the body, and without it living beings will become weaker structurally. Proteins are also needed to create hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen in blood cells. If proteins are not made to carry out any of these functions, then all living beings will surely die. Thankfully, sulfur allows us to stay alive, and help create