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Sulfur Compounds
   Sulfamic acid
   Sulfur dioxide
   Sulfuric Acid
Sulfamic acid H3NO3S
: Carcinogenic : Toxic :
The most famous applicaton of sulfamic acid is in the synthesis of compounds that taste sweet. It is used as an acidic cleaning agent, typically for metals and ceramics. It is a replacement for hydrochloric acid for the removal of rust.
It's other uses include; catalyst for esterification process, dye and pigment manufacturing, herbicide, coagulator for urea-formaldehyde resins, ingredient in fire extinguishing media, in the pulp and paper industry as a chloride stabilizer and for the synthesis of nitrous oxide by reaction with nitric acid.
Sulfur dioxide SO2
: Toxic :
It is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. In particular, poor-quality coal and petroleum contain sulfur compounds, and generate sulfur dioxide when burned: the gas reacts with water and atmospheric oxygen to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and thus acid rain.
Sulfur dioxide is sometimes used as a preservative in alcoholic drinks, or dried apricots and other dried fruits. The preservative is used to maintain the appearance of the fruit rather than prevent rotting. This can give fruit a distinctive chemical taste. Prior to the development of Freons, sulfur dioxide was used as a refrigerant in home refrigerators.
Sulfuric Acid H2SO4
: Highly Corrosive : Toxic :
Sulfuric acid has many applications, and is produced in greater amounts than any other chemical besides water. World production in 2001 was 165 million tonnes. Principal uses include ore processing, fertilizer manufacturing, oil refining, wastewater processing, and chemical synthesis.
Sulfuric acid is produced in the upper atmosphere of Venus by the sun's photochemical action on carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and water vapour. Ultraviolet photons of wavelengths less than 169 nm can photodissociate carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide and atomic oxygen. Atomic oxygen is highly reactive; when it reacts with sulfur dioxide, a trace component of the Venusian atmosphere, the result is sulfur trioxide, which can combine with water vapour, another trace component of Venus' atmosphere, to yield sulfuric acid.