Chemistry (AS Level)·Nitrogen and Sulfur · NSSCAS 3.5.2
Sulfur & Sulfur Dioxide
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Sulfur dioxide is one of the most important air pollutants you'll meet. In this lesson you'll learn where SO₂ comes from — burning fossil fuels and roasting metal sulfide ores — how it harms breathing and forms acid rain, and how acid rain damages buildings, lakes and trees. You'll work through the acid-rain equations step by step, see why low-sulfur fuels and flue-gas desulfurisation matter for the van Eck power station in Windhoek, and meet the huge industrial uses of sulfuric acid.
What you'll learn in this lesson
By the end you should be able to (NSSCAS Chemistry (AS Level) 3.5.2):
- Recall that sulfur dioxide is an atmospheric pollutant formed from burning fossil fuels (coal and oil contain sulfur) and from roasting metal sulfide ores
- Recall that sulfur dioxide causes breathing difficulties and forms acid rain, and describe the acid-rain chemistry and its effects on buildings, lakes and trees
- Recall the importance of low-sulfur fuels and flue-gas desulfurisation in keeping SO₂ emissions within WHO limits, using the van Eck power station at Windhoek
- State the industrial importance of sulfuric acid, including in fertilisers
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