Sulfur

__Zachary __Heading:____ Element Name: Sulfur Address: Period 3, Group 16 (Chalcogens) Atomic #: 16 Atomic Mass: 32.065amu

__Objective:__ I would like to work for a pesticide or exterminator company. I would like to do this because I am excellent at killing pests and insects. I should be the exterminators assistant and attack pests he finds. He could use me like a hunter uses a dog. Or, I should work on the assembly line actually making the pesticide. I could jump right in. My background is pretty interesting. I’ve had experience with many fields of work including gunpowder, rubber, fertilizer, and even dying agents. I got here today from an underground deposit via the Frasch process. The Frasch process, invented by Herman Frasch, is when superheated water is put into the deposit and melts me. I then rise to the surface on compressed air. It’s a lot of fun. You should try it sometime! My history goes very far back. In 1777 Antoine Lavoisier showed that I was an element, but I’ve been know to exist much longer than that. In fact, the Greek poet homer mentioned me about 2,800 years ago (It’s elemental)! I’m famous.

__Honors and Awards:__ I’m known for my work with fertilizers, rubber, insecticides, and industrial processes. However, I’m useful to people in other ways too. I’ve been used in medicine and take place in some important life processes. I have been used in the treatment of gout, rheumatism, and bronchitis and as a mild laxative. I am also known to “stimulate the body’s natural healing powers.” People who practice homeopathy use me for loads of stuff like skin ailments, arthritis, and more. As for life processes, I make up some of cells and am found in some amino acids and enzymes.

__Experience and Skills__ I have experience killing bugs and helping plants to grow. I also have worked with guns and the fashion industry. Over the years I have acquired skills from each profession. I, along with the other ingredients in pesticides, can disrupt an insects nervous system, cause insects to prematurely molt or not molt at all, and prevent insect eggs from hatching. I can also make gunpowder explode and color clothing.

__References__ Two good references would be Oxygen and Selenium. Both are my family members. Tellurium and Polonium are also family members, but we aren’t as closely related. Lastly, Sodium would be a good reference because the deposits that I’m found in are contain sodium as well. Yes, we were very close before we went our separate ways.

__Citations__ "Frasch process." __Encyclopædia Britannica__. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 01 Dec. 2009 . "sulfur." __McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology__. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2005. //Answers.com// 01 Dec. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/sulfur "sulfur." __Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine__. The Gale Group, Inc, 2005. //Answers.com// 01 Dec. 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/sulfur Zaf. "How Does Poison Kill Insects?" //WikiAnswers//. N.p., 2009. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. . Gagnon, Steve. "The Element Sulfur." //Jefferson Lab//. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Dec. 2009. .