Zinc + Sulfur = Aluminum + Sulfur?

Question

When zinc dust and sulfur dust are combined in certain proportional ratios and ignited, a violent exothermic reaction occurs. Because the reaction only depends on two components; zinc and sulfur, but not oxygen, the reaction has all of the components that it needs within the mixture. The same is also true for a mixture of magnesium and sulfur.

However, the same reaction does not occur with iron and sulfur. Instead, the mixture reacts slowly over a period of a few minutes rather than flashing to smoke in less than a second. 

Now for my questions:
1: If aluminum and sulfur were combined in the same proportional ratios as the zinc and the magnesium mixtures were, would the reaction be as fast as the zinc and the magnesium mixtures? Why or why not?
2: What properties of the different metals used in these mixtures makes them behave so differently?

Colin · Accepted Answer

1. This depends on the aluminium particle size and it's quality as Al is normally coated with an oxide layer that protects the Al metal underneath. Assuming that the Al powder was good stuff, it should react as violently as the Zn and Mg mixtures. Why .. because it is a very reactive metal ... see further info below. However I needed tried it.
2. The difference is really about the reactivity. Iron, although a reactive metal, is far less reactive than Mg,Al, and Zn. 

I have tried the zinc and sulphur a number of times and it is really quite violent. With a fair quantityof reactants  in the lab it produced an excellent mushroom smoke cloud. I've also seen the Al reactivity demonstrated by a mad Chemistry prof from Nottingham University. He mixed Al powder into a paste with liquid oxygen and ignited it! Wow ... what a reaction.I shall never forget it although it was about 35 years ago!

? · Answer

the forged iron crucible will honestly be dragging the warmth away,so attempt to discover a ceramic crucible---you will possibly have the potential to discover them at any rings furnish domicile.you will additionally so discover commercially arranged fluxes for melting,if no longer" Borax "powder is a fluxing agent I generally use.With the small quantity of meral you're wishing to soften,i think of your MAPP torch ought to artwork,be confident to change the flame to a "lowering" flame to steer clear of "gassing" the metallic.the availability domicile RIOGRANDE has an entire inventory of something you are able to require besides as some preprepared alloys which you will choose to objective.

Zinc + Sulfur = Aluminum + Sulfur?

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