sulfur dioxide

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sulfur dioxide

sulfur dioxide chemical compound, SO ₂ , 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, H ₂ SO ₃ . 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

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | © The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English 2009, originally published by Oxford University Press 2009. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

sul·fur di·ox·ide • n. Chem. a colorless pungent toxic gas, SO₂, formed by burning sulfur in air.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

	China plans to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions. (Newsdesk).(Brief Article) Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 12/16/2002
	Sulfur Dioxide Recovery Unit Using the Citric Acid Process Put on Stream in Suzhou.(Brief Article) Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 2/6/2000
	Sulfur dioxide leakage in Hubei.(Brief article) Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 4/16/2006

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