Australia's Science Forum

I spell it 'sulfur' but a quick check of manufacturers' products in the chem store yielded an almost equal number of 'sulphates' as 'sulfates', etc. Maybe Aussies just suit ourselves, but had to share this (from WebElements online Periodic Table):

Brief description: the spelling of sulphur is "sulfur" in the USA and now that IUPAC has decided it has jurisdiction over the British English language (as distinct from American English) as well as nomenclature, so we in the UK are expected to use the f word.

Oh my! I would not dream of using the f word.

Even if IUPAC say I must

So is phosphorus still phosphorus or is it now fosforus??

Makes the old poem "I'm not a pheasant plucker...." take on a whole new dimension!?!

I haven't heard that one Loopy but it sounds interesting. How does it go or whats its title I would like to read that.

I'm just a pheasent pluckers mate!

It started some thing like.. " I'm not a pheasant plucker, I'm a pheasant plucker's son. " and the trick was to say it three times really quickly. It would end up with "fff" and the "pl" sounds being reversed.... (Don't mind me, I have a terrible off beat sense of humor even to the point where I scare myself sometimes!)

rainbow-sky wrote:Oh my! I would not dream of using the f word.

Even if IUPAC say I must

I am very sorry Rainbow Sky, but we are Scientists around here. We must use MKS (SI) units in our measurements and IUPAC spelling!!

You may have a copy of a teaching Programme, but you can only write a computer Program!

I remember back in about 1974, my year 10 Science teacher explaining that we had to relearn how to spell sulfur!

All the best
Ian

Hi All,

Just to clarify on some of the confusion regarding the spelling of Sulfur....

The American Chemical Society (GOD of all things Chemistry) has rulled in 1983 that the spelling of Sulfur will be SULFUR. Phosphorus is still the same....... But there is ONE EXCEPTION. Aluminium can (in the european countries still be spelled the way that I have just indicated where the Amreican spelling of this is ALUMINUM.

In earlier days this was not a mandatory thing, but was better to have it spelled appropriately before the final rulling in 1983.

I get frustrated when I pick up a text that has been designed for the European others and find the spelling incorrect. (a true indication as to where the book has originated from).

Good question though!

(oh!! and before I forget any labels which have the SULPHUR spelling is incorrect and to change machines that print these lables out with this spelling is more significant that one would expect, that is why sometimes you still see this element spelled that way).

A typical error is to think the IUPAC has changed this name.... No the ACS has decided this then has passed the permission onto the IUPAC.

Cheers,

Robb.....

I am not a pheasant plucker, nor a pheasant pluckers son,
But I'll keep on plucking pheasants til the pheasant plucker comes...
there try that one fast...........................

The CSIS tells us to spell it Sulfur, and that has been out for over ten years now.

Hi All,

CSIS is conforming to the legal requirements hence why we see it there also in CSIS.

Well picked up Labbie....


Cheers,

Robb.....

Maybe I should have put this in joke-of-the-day but


The Pheasant Plucking Song

The Pheasant Plucking Song

Me husband is a keeper, he's a very busy man,
I try to understand him and I help him all I can,
But sometimes of an evening I feel a trifle dim,
All alone and plucking pheasants when I'd rather pluck with him.

I'm not the pheasant plucker,
I'm the pheasant plucker's mate
And I'm only plucking pheasants
Cos the pheasant plucker's late.

I'm not good at plucking pheasants, pheasant plucking I get stuck,
Though some peasants find it pleasant I'd much rather pluck a duck,
Oh, but plucking geese is gorgeous, I can pluck a goose with ease
But plucking pheasants is sheer torture, for they haven't any grease.

I'm not the pheasant plucker,
He has gone out on the tiles,
He only plucked one pheasant
And I'm sitting here with piles.

You have to pluck them fresh, if they're fresh it's not unpleasant,
I knew a man in Dunstable, could pluck a frozen pheasant.
They say the village constable has pheasant plucking sessions
With the vicar of a Sunday 'twixt the first and second lessons.

I'm not the pheasant plucker,
I'm the pheasant plucker's son,
And I'm only plucking pheasants
Till the pheasant plucker's come.

My good friend Godfrey's most adept, he's really got the knack,
He likes to have a pheasant plucked before he hits the sack.
I try and lend a helping hand, I gather up the feathers,
It's really all this pheasant plucking keeps us here together.

I'm not the pheasant plucker,
I'm the pheasant plucker's friend,
And I'm only plucking pheasants
As a means unto an end.

Me husband's in the woods all day, a-banging with his gun,
If he could hear me heartfelt cries, then surely he would run,
For I've fluff in all me crannies and there's feathers up me nose,
And I'm itchin' in the kitchin' from me head down to me toes.

I'm not the pheasant plucker,
I'm the pheasant plucker's wife,
And when we pluck together
It's a pheasant plucking life!

Robb

fing the speling incorrect.

Was this a joke??? Made me laugh, either way.

Hi All,

Oop's was not intentional, have fixed the problem. Made me laugh too....

Cheers,

Robb.....