Final answer:
The production of sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas occurs when hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is burned with oxygen, an essential step in natural gas purification and in the industrial synthesis of sulfuric acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reaction that produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas is the burning of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in oxygen. This is an important process in removing hydrogen sulfide from natural gas and is also a step in the synthesis of sulfuric acid.
The balanced chemical equation is:
- 2H2S (g) + 3O2 (g) → 2SO2 (g) + 2H2O(g)
Upon burning hydrogen sulfide in the presence of oxygen, sulfur dioxide and water vapor are produced as the result. This chemical reaction is exothermic, releasing heat energy. Sulfur dioxide then further reacts with oxygen to form sulfur trioxide, which is a precursor to sulfuric acid in industry.