Final answer:
1 mole of sulfur dioxide reacts with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide, not water or carbon dioxide. This exothermic reaction is represented by the chemical equation 2SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2SO3(g) and releases energy. Sulfur trioxide is key in forming sulfuric acid which contributes to acid rain.
Step-by-step explanation:
When 1 mole of sulfur dioxide (SO2) is reacted with oxygen (O2), the result is the formation of sulfur trioxide (SO3). This reaction can be represented by the chemical equation: 2SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2SO3(g). It's important to note that sulfur dioxide does not produce water (H2O) or carbon dioxide (CO2) in this reaction. The production of SO3 is an exothermic reaction, meaning it releases heat, with a ΔH° of -197.8 kJ.
Sulfur dioxide is commonly produced in the laboratory by the decomposition of sulfurous acid (H2SO3) or by the reaction of reducing agents with sulfuric acid (H2SO4). Sulfur trioxide, on the other hand, is a significant chemical as it reacts with water to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4), which can lead to environmental issues such as acid rain when it is formed in the atmosphere from pollutants.