Sulfur dioxide is a noticeable component in the atmosphere, especially following volcanic eruptions. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of sulfur dioxide released in the U.S. per year was: Sulfur dioxide is a major air pollutant and has significant impacts upon human health. In addition, the concentration of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere can influence the habitat suitability for plant communities, as well as animal life. Sulfur dioxide emissions are a precursor to acid rain and atmospheric particulates. Due largely to the US EPA’s Acid Rain Program, the U.S. has had a 33% decrease in emissions between 1983
Higher sulfur oxides forms of solid SO) with oxide bridges (−O−) replaced randomly by peroxide bridges(−O−O−). As such these compounds are non-stoichiometric. Higher sulfur oxides Higher sulfur oxides are a group of chemical compounds with the formula SO where x lies between 0 and 1. They contain peroxo (O−O) groups and the oxidation state of sulfur is +6 as in SO. Monomeric SO can be isolated at low temperatures (below 78 K) following the reaction of SO and atomic oxygen or photolysis of SO–ozone mixtures. The favoured structure is: Colourless polymeric condensates are formed in the reaction of gaseous SO or SO with