Chemistry
Answer
Harmful effects of oxides of sulphur:
- It causes headache, vomiting and even death due to respiratory failure.
- It destroys vegetation and weakens building materials/constructions.
- It mixes with smoke and fog to form smog, which is very harmful.
- It is oxidised by atmospheric oxygen into sulphur trioxide which combines with water to form sulphuric acid. Sulphuric acid is the cause of acid rain.
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) ⟶ 2SO3 (g)
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) ⟶ H2SO4 (aq)