Sulfur Dioxide

Question 1

Sulfur dioxide (SO2(g)) is a major air pollutant that forms what and can irritate what?

Answer 1

Both smog and acid rain. It can affect your respiratory system (throat and lungs) and
irritate your eyes

Question 2

Sulfur dioxide and other oxides of sulfur form when what happens?

Answer 2

Oxygen combines with sulfur.

Question 3

What is the major source of sulfur dioxide?

Answer 3

Industrial processes.

Question 4

Sulfur dioxide and other oxides of sulfur are also formed by what?

Answer 4

Burning fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 5

Industrial and electrical generating plants use devices called “what” to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by how much.

Answer 5

Scrubbers. Up to 99%

Question 6

Scrubbers use limestone (calcium carbonate) to convert the pollutant sulfur dioxide to a what?

Answer 6

A useful product.

Question 7

In a scrubber, the sulfur dioxide reacts with the calcium carbonate in the scrubber to produce what?

Answer 7

Gypsum (calcium sulfate).

Question 8

What’s the equation for scrubbers?

Answer 8

2 SO2(g) + 4 H2O(l) + 2 CaCO3(s) + O2(g) →
2 CaSO4 · 2 H2O(s) + 2 CO2(g)

sulfur dioxide + water + limestone + oxygen →
gypsum + carbon dioxide

Question 9

The gypsum is recovered and can be used in what?

Answer 9

Manufacturing.