Question

For the reaction `2"H"_2"S"+"SO"_2->3"S"+2"H"_2"O"`.what happens in this above reaction?

Answer 1

hydrogen sulfide plus sulfur dioxide react to form sulfur and water

Explanation:

Given: `2H_2S + SO_2 -> 3S + 2H_2O`

2 moles of hydrogen sulfide combines with 1 mole of sulfur dioxide react to form 3 moles of sulfur and 2 moles of water.

This sounds like a reaction that you would encounter at Yellowstone National Park.

Answer 2

This is a so-called `"comproportionation reaction"`, i.e. a redox process where oxidant and reductant give the SAME product...

Explanation:

Sulfide is oxidized to sulfur:

`S^(2-) rarr S(s) +2e^(-)` `(i)`

Sulfur dioxide is reduced to sulfur:

`SO_2(g) + 4H^+ +4e^(-) rarr S(s) +2H_2O(l)` `(ii)`

And we add `2xx(i)+(ii)` to retire the electrons to get...

`SO_2(g)+underbrace(2S^(2-) + 4H^+)_(-=2H_2S) +4e^(-)rarr 3S(s) +4e^(-) +2H_2O(l)`

To give after cancellation....

`SO_2(g)+2H_2S rarr 3S(s) +2H_2O(l)`

Is this balanced? If it is not, then it cannot be accepted as a representation of reality.