We all hear many things about Hydrogen Sulfide gas, while do you know its application?
H2S at a Glance
Hydrogen sulfide and water have similar structures, but intermolecular forces in H2S are weaker than those in H2O. These weaker forces cause hydrogen sulfide to boil at a lower temperature than water. The human body, volcanic gases, unrefined petroleum and natural gas all contain hydrogen sulfide. This gas is heavier than air so it often accumulates in low-lying areas. Food processing plants, paper mills and other industries can also create H2S as a byproduct of their production processes.
Hydrogen Sulfide: Nature's Chemical Helper
The main use for hydrogen sulfide is in the production of sulfuric acid and elemental sulfur. Manufacturers use sodium hydrosulfide, sodium sulfide and similar inorganic sulfides to create products such as pesticides, leather, dyes and pharmaceuticals. H2S is used to prepare the inorganic sulfides you need to make those products. As a reagent and intermediate, hydrogen sulfide is beneficial because it can prepare other types of reduced sulfur compounds. A reagent is a starting participant in a chemical reaction. In a chemical process, an intermediate is a substance that the process creates. This substance, not the final product, can serve as raw material for the process's next step.
