SOIL: THE SULFUR CYCLE

US = SULPHUR
GROUP MEMBERS: WAN MOHD IZZAT BIN WAN NORAZMEE MUHD. IZZAT ASYRAF BIN AB. AZIZ MUHAMMAD EHSAN BIN ABD. HALIM
PISMP-IPGM F5 SCIENCE JANUARY/2008

LECTURERS: DR. KARTINI BINTI ABDUL MUTALIB MR. AHAMAD SHABUDIN BIN YAHAYA
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT, IPGM-IPOH

SULFUR CYCLE
T H R O U G H

Air

Water

Living organism

Soil

o Much of the earth s Sulfur is stored in rocks & minerals. o Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is released from active volcanoes and from organic matter in swamps, bogs, and tidal flats broken down by anaerobic decomposers. o Sulfur dioxide (SO2) also released from active volcanoes. o Particles of sulfate (SO ) salts, such as ammonium sulfate, enter the atmosphere from sea spray, dust storms, and forest fires. Plant roots absorb sulfate ions and incorporate the sulfur as an essential component of many proteins.

o Certain marine algae produce large amounts of volatile dimethyl sulphide (DMS = CH3SCH3). o Tiny droplets of DMS serve as nuclei for the condensation of water into droplets found in clouds. Thus changes in DMS emissions can affect cloud cover and climate. o In the atmosphere, DMS is converted to SO2. o In atmosphere, SO2 from natural sources and human activities is converted to Sulfur Trioxide gas (SO3) and to tiny droplets of sulfuric acid.

o SO2 also reacts with other atmospheric chemicals such as ammonia to produce tiny particles of sulfate salts. o In the oxygen-deficient environments of flooded soils, fresh water wetlands, and tidal flats, specialized bacteria convert sulfate ions to sulfide ion (S ). o The sulfide ions can then react with metal ions to form insoluble metallic sulfides, which are deposited as rock, and the cycle continues.

Burn sulfur-containing coal and oil to produce electric power

Human add SO2 to atmosphere

Refine sulfurcontaining petroleum to make gasoline, heating oil, etc.

Convert sulfurcontaining metallic mineral ores into free metals such as copper, lead, & zinc.