sulfur dioxide

sulfur dioxide
a colorless, nonflammable, water-soluble, suffocating gas, SO2, formed when sulfur burns: used chiefly in the manufacture of chemicals such as sulfuric acid, in preserving fruits and vegetables, and in bleaching, disinfecting, and fumigating.
[1865-70]

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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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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • sulfur dioxide — n. a heavy, colorless, suffocating gas, SO2, easily liquefied and used as a bleach, disinfectant, preservative, etc …   English World dictionary

  • Sulfur dioxide — Chembox new Name = Sulphur dioxide ImageFileL1 = Sulfur dioxide 2D.svg ImageSizeL1 = 120 ImageFileR1 = Sulfur dioxide 3D vdW.png OtherNames = sulfur(IV) oxide; sulfurous anhydride Section1 = Chembox Identifiers CASNo = CASRN|7|4|4|6|0|9|5… …   Wikipedia

  • sulfur dioxide — sieros(IV) oksidas statusas T sritis chemija formulė SO₂ atitikmenys: angl. sulfur dioxide; sulfur(IV) oxide rus. сернистый ангидрид; сернистый газ; серы двуокись; серы диоксид; серы(IV) оксид ryšiai: sinonimas – sieros dioksidas …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • sulfur dioxide — sulfur di oxide the American spelling of ↑sulphur dioxide …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • sulfur dioxide — noun a colorless toxic gas (SO2) that occurs in the gases from volcanoes; used in many manufacturing processes and present in industrial emissions; causes acid rain • Syn: ↑sulphur dioxide • Hypernyms: ↑dioxide, ↑gas, ↑pollutant * * * (US) (or… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sulfur dioxide — noun (U) the American spelling of sulphur dioxide …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • sulfur dioxide — sul′fur diox′ide n. chem. a colorless, nonflammable, water soluble, suffocating gas, SO2, formed when sulfur burns: used chiefly in the manufacture of chemicals such as sulfuric acid, in preserving fruits and vegetables, and in bleaching,… …   From formal English to slang

  • sulfur dioxide — noun Date: 1869 a heavy pungent toxic gas SO2 that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sulfur dioxide — noun A toxic gas, of molecular formula SO that is found in the emissions of volcanos and those of burning coal or petroleum; dissolves in water to form sulfurous acid and, in the presence of oxygen, sulfuric acid, and is thus responsible for …   Wiktionary

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