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

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