Ask A Scientist Chemistry Archive

name        Annie
status       student
grade        4-5
location     GA

Question -    How would I measure how much sulfur is in an object
like an onion or an egg? Can you measure sulfur? If so,how?
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This is not an easy analysis using standard lab equipment for at least 3 
reasons:
1. Sulfur can be present as the [S](-2) ion, as sulfate ion [SO4](-2), the 
sulfite ion [SO3](-2), as elemental sulfur, or bound in various organic 
compounds.
2. There is not a lot of sulfur present.
3. There are interfering substances present that can give either false 
high results or false low results, depending upon the procedure.

Vince Calder
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