sulfur dioxide

sulfur dioxide, chemical compound, SO₂, a colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor. It is readily soluble in cold water, sparingly soluble in hot water, and soluble in alcohol, acetic acid, and sulfuric acid. It is corrosive to organic materials and dissolves in water to form sulfurous acid, H₂SO₃. Sulfur dioxide is used in bleaching and in chemical manufacture and as a refrigerant and a food preservative, e.g., for fumigating fruit. It may be produced by reaction of sulfur with oxygen, e.g., by burning sulfur in air, and it is often produced during the roasting of sulfide ores, e.g., in zinc smelting. Sulfur dioxide is a dangerous air pollutant because of its corrosive properties; it irritates the eyes, nose, and lungs. It is produced by combustion of coal, fuel oil, and gasoline, since these fuels contain sulfur. The sulfur content of a fuel can be reduced by refining, so that less sulfur dioxide is emitted when the fuel is burned.

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sulfur dioxide

Inorganic compound, heavy, colourless, poisonous gas (SO₂). It has a pungent, irritating odour (the smell of a just-struck match). It occurs in volcanic gases and dissolved in the waters of some warm springs. Huge quantities are made industrially for use as a bleach, as a reducing agent, and as sulfites, which are food preservatives. It is a precursor of the trioxide (SO₃), used to make sulfuric acid. Sulfur dioxide is formed when sulfur-containing fuels are burned; in the atmosphere it can combine with water vapour to form sulfuric acid, a major component of acid rain.

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sulfur dioxide [′səl·fər dī′äk‚sīd]

(inorganic chemistry)

SO₂A toxic, irritating, colorless gas soluble in water, alcohol, and ether; boils at -10°C; used as a chemical intermediate, in artificial ice, paper pulping, and ore refining, and as a solvent. Also known as sulfurous acid anhydride.