sulfur dioxide
noun Chemistry.
a colorless, nonflammable, water-soluble, suffocating gas, SO2, formed when sulfur burns: used chiefly in the manufacture of chemicals such as sulfuric acid, in preserving fruits and vegetables, and in bleaching, disinfecting, and fumigating.
Origin of sulfur dioxide
First recorded in 1865–70
Words nearby sulfur dioxide
sulfotransferase,
sulfoxide,
sulfur,
sulfur bacteria,
sulfur butterfly,
sulfur dioxide,
sulfur dye,
sulfur spring,
sulfur trioxide,
sulfur-35,
sulfur-bottom
Scientific definitions for sulfur dioxide
sulfur dioxide
A colorless, poisonous gas or liquid with a strong odor. It is formed naturally by volcanic activity, and is a waste gas produced by burning coal and oil and by many industrial processes, such as smelting. It is also a hazardous air pollutant and a major contributor to acid rain. Chemical formula: SO2.