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Definition of SO2
1.1. Names
1.1.1. Common name: Sulfur dioxide, sometimes also referred to as sulfur gas.
1.1.2. English name: Sulfur dioxide.
1.2. Atomic mass: SO2 has an atomic mass of 64.066 (32.065 for S and 15.9994 x 2 for O).
1.3. Atomic structure: An SO2 molecule contains 1 sulfur atom and 2 oxygen atoms.
1.4. Ion structure: SO2 does not dissociate into ions in water solution. -
Properties of SO2
2.1. Physical properties of SO2: SO2 is a colorless gas with a strong, distinctive smell. It is quite toxic and irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. In water solution, SO2 creates an acidic environment (pH < 7).
2.2. Chemical properties of SO2: SO2 has the ability to oxidize and reduce, it can react with water to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3) and react with oxygen to form SO3. -
Common chemical reactions of SO2
SO2 does not react with metals and salts. However, it can react with acids and non-metals as follows:
3.1. Acid reaction: SO2 + H2O -> H2SO3
3.2. Non-metal reaction: 2SO2 + O2 -> 2SO3