Final answer:
Sulfur, symbolized by S, reacts more vigorously than fluorine with iron wool because of its higher reactivity and tendency to form compounds with metals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sulfur, symbolized by S, reacts more vigorously than fluorine with iron wool. This is because sulfur belongs to group 16 of the periodic table, along with oxygen and the halogens. Like oxygen and the halogens, sulfur has a tendency to accept electrons to fill its valence shell, making it an oxidizing agent.
Sulfur readily reacts with most metals and forms sulfide compounds, such as iron sulfide (FeS), when reacting with iron. Therefore, when compared to fluorine, sulfur would react more vigorously with iron wool because of its higher reactivity and tendency to form compounds with metals.