Sulfur is a chemical element with the symbol S and atomic number 16. It is a nonmetallic element that belongs to the oxygen group of the periodic table. Sulfur is abundant, multivalent, and nonmetallic. It is a tasteless, odourless, brittle solid that is pale yellow in colour, a poor conductor of electricity, and insoluble in water. It reacts with all metals except gold and platinum, forming sulfides; it also forms compounds with several nonmetallic elements. Millions of tons of sulfur are produced each year, and it has many uses, including the production of sulfuric acid for sulfate and other chemical processes, matches, insecticides, and fungicides
. Sulfur is also found in soil, plants, foods, and water, and some proteins contain sulfur in the form of amino acids
