Final answer:
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a common sulfur compound in mine rocks, and it forms sulfurous acid (H2SO3) when in contact with water, leading to environmental issues like acid rain.
Step-by-step explanation:
A main compound of sulfur found in rocks from mines is sulfur dioxide (SO2). When sulfur dioxide comes into contact with water, it dissolves to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3). This process can lead to the formation of acid rain when sulfur dioxide from various sources, including mining operations, interacts with atmospheric water. As sulfur-containing rocks weather, sulfur is released into the soil and eventually cycled back to the atmosphere as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas after being utilized by terrestrial ecosystems. Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels greatly increase the amount of sulfur in the atmosphere and subsequently contribute to the production of acid rain, impacting both natural and man-made environments.