CBSE Class 12 Chemistry Notes: The p Block Elements – Oxygen family (Oxyacids)

The important oxyacids of S, Se and Te are given in the table.

But the oxyacids of sulphur are more important.

Extraction of sulphur
(a) Frasch Process
In this method of extraction, sulphur is extracted from underground deposits. The underground deposits are melted through passing superheated (~ 440 K) steam down the beds of ore. The molten sulphur is then blown out with the help of compressed air.

(b) From natural gas
Sulphur can be recovered from the natural gas which includes separating out of H2S by absorption into monoethanolamine and then converting H2S in to sulphur by the following sequence of reactions.