National Pollutant Inventory

Substances

Sulfur dioxide: Overview

Description

As a fruit preserving agent and as a food preservative or additive.
In the fermentation stage of wine making.
For bleaching textile fibres.
In the manufacture of paper.
As a disinfectant in breweries and food factories.
As a fumigant for grains, grapes and citrus fruits.

Substance details

Substance name: Sulfur dioxide

CASR number: 7446-09-5

Molecular formula: SO2

Synonyms: sulfurous oxide, sulfur oxide, sulfurous anhydride, sulphur dioxide

Physical properties

Colourless gas. Strong, suffocating odour.

Melting Point: -75.51°C

Boiling Point: -10.06°C

Specific Gravity: 0.00293

Vapour Density: 2.26

Chemical properties

Non-flammable gas. Sulfur dioxide may oxidise to sulfur trioxide which then dissolves in water to produce sulfuric acid.

Further information

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of Sulfur dioxide in Australia.

Key

   Links to an another web site
   Opens a pop-up window

Factory. Credit: Michael Lindquist