Hexasulfur is an inorganic chemical with the chemical formula S6. This allotrope was first prepared by M. R. Engel in 1891 by treating thiosulfate with HCl.[2] Cyclo-S6 is orange-red and forms a rhombohedral crystal.[3] It is called ρ-sulfur, ε-sulfur, Engel's sulfur and Aten's sulfur.[4] Another method of preparation involves the reaction of a polysulfane with sulfur monochloride:[3]

Hexasulfur
Ball and stick model of hexathiane
Names
Systematic IUPAC name
  • Cyclohexasulfane
  • cyclo-Hexasulfur
  • Hexathiane[1]
Other names
Hexasulfur
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
  • InChI=1S/S6/c1-2-4-6-5-3-1 checkY
    Key: FEXCMMPRRBSCRG-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • S1SSSSS1
Properties
S6
Molar mass 192.36 g·mol−1
Appearance Vivid, orange, opaque crystals
Related compounds
Related compounds
Octasulfur
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
H2S4 + S2Cl2cyclo-S6 + 2 HCl (dilute solution in diethyl ether)

Nomenclature

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The name hexasulfur is the most commonly used and preferred IUPAC name and is constructed according to the compositional nomenclature, and cyclohexasulfane. It is also the final member of the thiane heterocyclic series, where every carbon atom is substituted with a sulfur atom, thus the systematic name hexathiane, a valid IUPAC name, is constructed according to the substitutive nomenclature. Another valid IUPAC systematic name cyclo-hexasulfur is constructed according to the additive nomenclature.

Structure

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This chemical consists of rings of 6 sulfur atoms. It is thus a simple cyclosulfane and an allotrope of sulfur. Hexasulfur adopts a chair configuration similar to that of cyclohexane, with bond angles of 102.2°. The sulfur atoms are equivalent.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "S6 - PubChem Public Chemical Database". The PubChem Project. USA: National Center for Biotechnology Information. Archived from the original on 2012-11-03. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  2. ^ Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 655. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  3. ^ a b c Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 656. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  4. ^ Theilig, Eilene (1982). A primer on sulfur for the planetary geologist. NASA Contractor Report 3594, Grant NAGW-132, Office of Space Science and Applications, Washington, DC, USA: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Scientific and Technical Information Branch. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2020-04-13. Retrieved 2024-01-10.