sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy pungent toxic gas SO₂ that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial areas

Examples of sulfur dioxide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1991 the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines blasted more than 15 million tons of sulfur dioxide 21 miles high. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2024

These regions, which have rapidly industrialized over the past four decades, have seen a two- to fourfold increase in sulfur dioxide and black carbon emissions since the 1970s. —Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Foreign Affairs, 16 Feb. 2016

In 2022, a company called Make Sunsets began doing small launches, deploying biodegradable balloons full of helium and sulfur dioxide that burst in the stratosphere. —Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2024

Thankfully, there has been only one death from a worker falling into a crack while two other people have been injured from inhaling sulfur dioxide gas and unauthorized hiking onto the lava fields at night. —Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy strong-smelling gas that is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, in preserving things, and as a refrigerant and that is a major substance in air pollution especially in industrial areas

Medical Definition

sulfur dioxide

noun

: a heavy pungent toxic gas SO₂ that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid, is used especially in making sulfuric acid, in bleaching, as a preservative, and as a refrigerant, and is a major air pollutant especially in industrial areas