Why is Sulfur a Nonmetal? (+ 3 Fascinating Facts to Know)

Yes, sulfur is a nonmetal. Sulfur is a brittle solid that is yellow in color. ¹ It is a reactive element and it can combine with other elements to form a variety of compounds, including sulfur dioxide, sulfuric acid, and sulfurous acid. ²

Well, this was just a simple answer. But there are few more things to know about this topic which will make your concept super clear.

So let’s dive right into it.

Explanation: Why is sulfur a nonmetal?

Sulfur is a nonmetal because it lacks the properties of a metal. 

Metals typically have a shiny, metallic appearance, are good conductors of heat and electricity, and are malleable and ductile, meaning they can be bent and stretched into various shapes. ³

In contrast, sulfur is a brittle solid that does not conduct electricity well. ⁴

It has a dull, yellow appearance and is not malleable or ductile. Sulfur also tends to form covalent bonds with other elements rather than ionic bonds, which is another characteristic of nonmetals.

Furthermore, sulfur is located on the right side of the periodic table, which is typically where nonmetals are found. ⁵

This is because nonmetals tend to have a higher electronegativity, meaning they attract electrons more strongly than metals. ⁶

This results in nonmetals tending to gain or share electrons in chemical reactions rather than losing them, which is what metals tend to do.

Overall, sulfur exhibits the properties of a nonmetal due to its physical and chemical characteristics and its location on the periodic table.

Can sulfur form metallic bonds with other elements?

No, sulfur cannot form metallic bonds with other elements because it lacks the necessary properties of a metal to do so. 

Metallic bonding occurs between metals, where the outermost electrons are delocalized and shared among all the atoms in the metal lattice, creating a “sea” of electrons. ⁷

This results in the typical metallic properties of malleability, ductility, and good electrical conductivity.

Sulfur, on the other hand, has a relatively high electronegativity and tends to gain or share electrons with other elements to form covalent bonds. ⁸

In a covalent bond, atoms share electrons to complete their outer electron shells, rather than giving up or accepting electrons as in ionic or metallic bonding. ⁹

Therefore, sulfur typically forms covalent bonds with other nonmetals, such as oxygen or nitrogen, rather than metallic bonds with metals.

Does sulfur show metallic properties?

Sulfur does not exhibit metallic properties under normal conditions. But under extreme conditions, such as at high pressures or temperatures, sulfur can exhibit some metallic properties. 

Element sulfur in nature is an insulating solid consisting of rings of S atoms. However, at high pressures (e.g., exceeding 90 GPa), it transforms from an insulator to a metallic phase accompanied by a crystallographic change to a base-center orthorhombic structure. ^{10 11 12 13}

However, it’s important to note that these metallic properties are not typically observed under standard conditions and are only seen under extreme conditions. 

Additionally, the metallic properties of sulfur under these conditions are not as pronounced as those of typical metals like copper or iron, and sulfur is still considered a nonmetal overall.

Further reading

Is Chlorine a Metal or a Nonmetal?
Is Argon a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Potassium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Calcium a Metal or Nonmetal?
Is Titanium a Metal or Nonmetal? 

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