* Reactivity with water: SCl₂ reacts violently with water. This reaction produces sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and hydrochloric acid (HCl):
SCl₂ + 2 H₂O → SO₂ + 2 HCl
* Polarity: Water is a highly polar molecule, while SCl₂ is a nonpolar molecule. "Like dissolves like" is a general rule of thumb in chemistry. Nonpolar substances tend to dissolve in nonpolar solvents, and polar substances dissolve in polar solvents.
* Formation of an emulsion: Even if a small amount of SCl₂ were to come into contact with water, it wouldn't dissolve. Instead, it would likely react rapidly, generating heat and producing a corrosive mixture of SO₂ and HCl.
Important Note: Due to the hazardous reaction with water, sulfur dichloride should be handled with extreme caution.