Sulfur Its Significance for Chemistry, for the Geo-, Bio-, and Cosmosphere and Technology

Sulfur: Its Significance for Chemistry, for the Geo-, Bio- and Cosmosphere and Technology focuses on the significance of sulfur for chemistry, geosphere, biosphere, cosmosphere, and technology. Topics covered range from the geochemistry and natural cycle of sulfur to the role of sulfur in "black powder". Organometallic sulfur compounds, thiolates, and the spectroscopic effects of sulfur chemistry are also discussed. Comprised of 21 chapters, this volume begins with an introduction to elemental sulfur and related homocyclic compounds and ions, focusing on their preparation, molecular and crystal structures, molecular spectra, and thermodynamic properties. Subsequent chapters deal with the origin and natural cycle of sulfur in the earth's crust; the role of sulfur in the reactions of exploding gunpowder; the use of sulfur in artwork; and developments in the field of organic sulfur chemistry. The catalytic properties of metal complexes of sulfur and sulfur-nitrogen compounds are also examined, along with the synthetic aspects of sulfido-complexes of molybdenum and tungsten. The final section is devoted to the role of sulfur in microbiology, biochemistry, and medicine. This monograph will be useful to students, practitioners, and researchers in the field of inorganic chemistry, as well as those who are interested in sulfur and its compounds.