Changes

Rasajalanidhi<ref name=":2">Mookerjee, Bhudeb. (1984 Second Edition) ''Rasa-Jala-Nidhi or Ocean of Indian Chemistry, Medicine and Alchemy'', ''Vol. 2'' Varanasi: Srigokul Mudranalaya</ref> cites a few more following terms

Rasajalanidhi<ref name=":2">Mookerjee, Bhudeb. (1984 Second Edition) ''Rasa-Jala-Nidhi or Ocean of Indian Chemistry, Medicine and Alchemy'', ''Vol. 2'' Varanasi: Srigokul Mudranalaya</ref> cites a few more following terms

गन्धाश्मा गन्धको गन्धो गन्धी च गन्धिकों वलिः

गन्धाश्मा गन्धको गन्धो गन्धी च गन्धिकों वलिः। सौगन्धिकः सुगन्धिकः पामघ्नो गन्धमोदनः ॥

नवनीतस्तथा प्रोक्तो गन्धेशः शरभूमिजः। 

 

 

नवनीतस्तथा प्रोक्तो गन्धेशः शरभूमिजः

== इतिहासः ॥ History ==

== इतिहासः ॥ History ==

== स्वरूपम् ॥ Appearance ==

== स्वरूपम् ॥ Appearance ==

Gandhaka is available in both free and bound forms. Sulfur mixed with metals is available in pure form near volcanic mountains and at other places. Sulfur is found in the form of both sulphide and sulphate compounds.

Gandhaka is available in both free and bound forms. Sulfur mixed with metals is available in pure form near volcanic mountains and at other places. Sulfur is found in the form of both sulphide and sulphate compounds.  

== गन्धकखनिजानि ॥ Sulfur Minerals ==

== गन्धकखनिजानि ॥ Sulfur Minerals ==

Naturally Sulphur is available in the form of various minerals of sulphur. Gandhaka or Sulphur is extracted from these minerals. Some of the suphur minerals are listed below,

Naturally Sulphur is available in the form of various minerals of sulphur. Gandhaka or Sulphur is extracted from these minerals. Some of the suphur minerals are listed below,<ref name=":1" />

* Sulphide - in Sulphide form

* Sulphide - in Sulphide form

== गन्धकस्य नैसर्गिकस्त्रोताः ॥ Natural sources of Sulphur ==

== गन्धकस्य नैसर्गिकस्त्रोताः ॥ Natural sources of Sulphur ==

Sulfur is also found in some organic substances like radish, onion, garlic, egg, etc. and in coal and crude petroleum products. These are the natural sources through which one can get organic form of sulphur.

Sulfur is also found in some organic substances like radish, onion, garlic, egg, etc. and in coal and crude petroleum products. These are the natural sources through which one can get organic form of sulphur.<ref name=":1" /> In cosmic abundance, sulfur ranks ninth among the elements, accounting for only one atom of every 20,000–30,000. Sulfur occurs in the uncombined state as well as in combination with other elements in rocks and minerals that are widely distributed, although it is classified among the minor constituents of Earth’s crust, in which its proportion is estimated to be between 0.03 and 0.06 percent. On the basis of the finding that certain meteorites contain about 12 percent sulfur, it has been suggested that deeper layers of Earth contain a much larger proportion. Seawater contains about 0.09 percent sulfur in the form of sulfate. In underground deposits of very pure sulfur that are present in domelike geologic structures, the sulfur is believed to have been formed by the action of bacteria upon the mineral anhydrite, in which sulfur is combined with oxygen and calcium. Deposits of sulfur in volcanic regions probably originated from gaseous hydrogen sulfide generated below the surface of Earth and transformed into sulfur by reaction with the oxygen in the air.<ref name=":0" />

== प्राप्तिस्थानम् ॥ Place of receipt ==

=== प्राप्तिस्थानम् ॥ Place of Availability ===

Free sulfur is found in the Sicilian volcanic region of 'Italy', New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Texas etc. countries. It can also be found in countries like Russia, Japan, Burma, Iceland, America, Chile, Philippines, etc. In India, sulfur is found in abundance in Singhbhum district and Rohitas district of Jharkhand province, in Rajasthan, Kumaon and Assam.

Free sulfur is found in the Sicilian volcanic region of 'Italy', New Zealand, Japan, Spain, Texas etc. countries. It can also be found in countries like Russia, Japan, Burma, Iceland, America, Chile, Philippines, etc. In India, sulfur is found in abundance in Singhbhum district and Rohitas district of Jharkhand province, in Rajasthan, Kumaon and Assam.

Ayurveda scholars have described various types of Gandhaka. It is classified on the basis of color, mode of consumption or utilization etc. Depending on its colour the supremacy of the gandhaka type and its value based on it has been decided. Gandhaka types are thus further also graded into good, better, best types. From a philosophical point of view, sulfur is the same but there are many differences of sulfur in shape, color etc.   

Ayurveda scholars have described various types of Gandhaka. It is classified on the basis of color, mode of consumption or utilization etc. Depending on its colour the supremacy of the gandhaka type and its value based on it has been decided. Gandhaka types are thus further also graded into good, better, best types. From a philosophical point of view, sulfur is the same but there are many differences of sulfur in shape, color etc.   

Four types of Sulphur based on colour<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />  

Four types of Sulphur are categorized based on colour<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

 

# '''Rakta''' - Red in color. Also known as Shukatundanibha i.e. of the color of Parrot's beak.  This type is considered the best one and utilized chiefly in Dhatuvada (Metallurgy)

# '''Peeta''' - Yellow in color. Also known as aamlasara or Shukapichhanibha i.e of the color of tail of parrot.  This type is commonly used in medicine.

 

# '''Shweta''' - Also known as Khatika type which is white in color. It is of inferior quality.

# '''Krshna''' - It is said to be the rarest type of Gandhaka.

# रक्तवर्णः ॥ '''Rakta''' - Red in color. Also known as Shukatundanibha i.e. of the color of Parrot's beak.  This type is considered the best one and utilized chiefly in Dhatuvada (Metallurgy)

# पीतवर्णः ॥ '''Peeta''' - Yellow in color. Also known as aamlasara or Shukapichhanibha i.e of the color of tail of parrot.  This type is commonly used in medicine.

# श्वेतवर्णः ॥ '''Shweta''' - Also known as Khatika type which is white in color. It is of inferior quality.

# कृष्णवर्णः ॥ '''Krshna''' - It is said to be the rarest type of Gandhaka

Form of Gandhaka which is considered best for use in Medicine

Form of Gandhaka which is considered best for use in Medicine

== Physical Properties of Sulphur ==

== Physical Properties of Sulphur ==

Sulfur is a yellow colored gem-shaped hard substance which shatters to pieces. It emits a special type of smell which becomes very intense in contact with fire. The gas emanating from it, called sulfur dioxide, is suffocating and gives shortness of breath. The melting point of sulfur is 115°C and it becomes thick at 230°C. On increasing the temperature, its color changes to the color of Nar. But it turns yellow again at higher temperatures above 500°C, its boiling point is 444°C. Its relative density is 2.06, it is insoluble in water.<ref name=":1">Mishra S. Textbook of Ayurvediya rasashstra.  Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan. Edition Pg 348-54</ref>

 

Sulfur is a yellow colored gem-shaped hard substance which shatters to pieces. It emits a special type of smell which becomes very intense in contact with fire. The gas emanating from it, called sulfur dioxide, is suffocating and gives shortness of breath. The melting point of sulfur is about 115°C and it becomes thick at 230°C. On increasing the temperature, its color changes to the color of Nar. But it turns yellow again at higher temperatures above 500°C, its boiling point is 444°C. Its relative density is 2.06, it is insoluble in water.<ref name=":1">Mishra S. Textbook of Ayurvediya rasashstra.  Chaukhamba Surbharati Prakashan. Edition Pg 348-54</ref>

{| class="wikitable"

{| class="wikitable"

|+Element Properties<ref name=":0" />

|+Element Properties<ref name=":0" />

|32.064

|32.064

|-

|-

!melting point

! colspan="2" |melting point

|-

|-

!rhombic

!rhombic

|444.6 °C (832 °F)

|444.6 °C (832 °F)

|-

|-

!density (at 20 °C [68 °F])

! colspan="2" |density (at 20 °C [68 °F])

|-

|-

!rhombic

!'''rhombic'''

|2.07 grams/cm³

|2.07 grams/cm³

|-

|-

!monoclinic

!'''monoclinic'''

|1.96 grams/cm³

|1.96 grams/cm³

|-

|-

!oxidation states

!'''oxidation states'''

|−2, +4, +6

|−2, +4, +6

|-

|-

== Uses of Sulphur ==

== Uses of Sulphur ==

Sulphur is used for multiple purposes in different industries. Few common uses of sulphur apart from medicinal use are listed below,

Sulphur is used for multiple purposes in different industries. Few common uses of sulphur apart from medicinal use are listed below,<ref name=":1" />

* In making Sulfur Dioxide gas, from which Sulfuric Acid and Sulphide are made which are very useful for Metallurgy .

* In making Sulfur Dioxide gas, from which Sulfuric Acid and Sulphide are made which are very useful for Metallurgy .