Final answer:
SO2 gas, known as sulfur dioxide, is most likely to be encountered near a sulfur burner or areas where fossil fuels are combusted, such as power plants or a tank farm with fuel storage. The MPR room is unlikely to be a source unless it houses equipment burning sulfur-containing fuels. The option (A) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
SO2 gas, also known as sulfur dioxide, is a by-product emitted from various processes, especially the burning of fossil fuels containing sulfur. The student asked where one may encounter sulfur dioxide gas, and the options provided were near the sulfur burner, the MPR room, or the tank farm. Given the sources of SO2 emissions, the highest likelihood of encountering sulfur dioxide would be near the sulfur burner, as well as areas closely associated with the combustion of fossil fuels such as power plants, industrial facilities, and areas with heavy machinery that burns high sulfur-containing fuels.
Significant SO2 emissions come from fossil fuel combustion at power plants and other industrial processes including metal extraction from ores. It is also produced by vehicles and equipment that burn fuels with high sulfur content. Hence, if the 'tank farm' refers to a storage facility for large quantities of fuel, SO2 might be encountered there as well when these fuels are combusted. On the contrary, the MPR room, which stands for Multi-Purpose Room, is unlikely to be a source of sulfur dioxide unless it contains equipment or processes that involve burning sulfur-containing fuels.
Exposure to high concentrations of SO2 can harm the respiratory systems of living organisms and contribute to environmental problems like acid rain and smog. Therefore, option (A) is correct.