The combustion of sulfur in air yields which gas?

The combustion of sulfur in air yields which gas?

• A. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
• B. Sulfur Trioxide (SO3)
• C. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
• D. Sulfur (S)

Answer: (A)

Burning sulfur in air involves oxidation by oxygen, so the main product is sulfur dioxide. S + O2 → SO2. This happens because sulfur tends to form a dioxide when it reacts with oxygen under ordinary combustion conditions. Some sulfur dioxide can further convert to sulfur trioxide if there is excess oxygen or very high temperature, but the gas typically observed from burning sulfur in air is SO2. Hydrogen sulfide would require sulfur to react with hydrogen, not with oxygen, and sulfur itself would not be produced as a product during combustion.

Burning sulfur in air involves oxidation by oxygen, so the main product is sulfur dioxide. S + O2 → SO2. This happens because sulfur tends to form a dioxide when it reacts with oxygen under ordinary combustion conditions. Some sulfur dioxide can further convert to sulfur trioxide if there is excess oxygen or very high temperature, but the gas typically observed from burning sulfur in air is SO2. Hydrogen sulfide would require sulfur to react with hydrogen, not with oxygen, and sulfur itself would not be produced as a product during combustion.