Physical Characteristics

Physical Properties of H2S

The structure of Hydrogen sulfide is similar to that of water.

However, sulfur is not as electronegative as oxygen as such that hydrogen sulfide is not as polar as water. Due to this, comparatively weak intermolecular forces exist in H₂S and the boiling points and melting points are way lower than in water.

The boiling points of water and hydrogen sulfide are 100^oC and -60^oC respectively.

Chemical Properties of Hydrogen Sulphide

• Hydrogen sulfide is heavier than air by a minute margin, a mixture of air and H₂S can lead to an explosion. Oxygen and Hydrogen sulfide catch fire with a blue flame to produce sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and water. Basically, hydrogen sulfide serves as a reducing agent and mostly in the presence of the base that makes SH^–.

• In the presence of catalysts or at higher temperatures, sulfur dioxide reacts with hydrogen sulfide to produce water and elemental sulfur. This reaction is an essential industrial method to dispose of hydrogen sulfide, exploited in the Claus process.