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Sulfur Cycleby Michael Timperio, Ryan Pfeffer and Vincent Werkle
What is it?
Sulfur Cycle-global circulation of sulfur from the environment to living organisms and back to the environment.
The most common chemical forms
● Sulfur Dioxide SO₂
● Sulfuric Acid H₂SO4
● Hydrogen Sulfide H2S
● Sulfurous Acid H₂SO3
How are they created?
● SO₂: volcanic activity burning fossil fuels
● H₂SO3 & H₂SO4: when the SO₂ reacts with water vapor and oxygen in the atmosphere
How is it used by living organisms?
● Soil microbes make sulfur available for the plants by converting it to inorganic forms
● Plants take it up through the soil● Secondary and tertiary obtain it by
consuming● Makes up around 1% of tissue in all living
organisms
What are the forms it takes in each of the spheres?
● Lithosphere: Hydrogen Sulfide H2S
● Hydrosphere: Sulfurous Acid H₂SO3 & Sulfurous Acid H₂SO4
● Atmosphere: Sulfur Dioxide SO2
Fastest and Slowest Parts
● Fastest: Combustion of Fossil Fuels leading to the oxidation of Sulfur.
● Slowest: When the sulfuric acid is in the atmosphere and sulfur embedded in sedimentary rock
How have humans altered the cycle?
Acid Rain- caused by large emissions of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere by human sources.Ex: Burning fossil fuels such as oil or coal, mining and farming (fertilizer)
Burning Fossil Fuels
- When fossil fuels are burned, Sulfur is set free and oxides, making sulfur dioxide
- human activity and volcanic activity are the only ways sulfur gets into the atmosphere
- Sulfur used to be mined- It now is an unwanted byproduct of the fuel
industry
How to reduce human effect ?
- Understand negative effects such as acid rain
- Filter smokestacks and exhaust pipes- rely more heavily on alternate energy, and
be more energy efficient
Fun facts about Sulfur
-Sulfur is odorless- makes up 3% of the earth's mass- Jupiter is covered in sulfur and sulfur compounds making it yellow- Penicillin is a sulfur based antibiotic
THE END