Question

Why is plastic sulphur elastic in nature?

Answer 1

One of the allotropic form of sulphur is plastic (or amorphous) sulphur. It is also known as gamma–Sulphur, is a tough elastic substance that is formed when molten sulphur is poured into cold water. It is a super-cooled liquid.

Sulfur in its yellow, powdery form is an octahedral ring. Heat breaks up this ring. When the molten sulfur is cooled by immersion into water, it forms a series of covalent bonds, or chains, much like a carbon polymer which is elastic in nature.