Sulfur Dioxide and Sulfurous Acid: Formation and Properties
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) dissolves in water to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3).
The reaction is as follows:
SO2 (g) + H2O (l) ⇌ H2SO3 (aq)
Sulfurous acid is a weak acid, meaning it only partially ionizes in solution. It is a significant contributor to acid rain and is responsible for the characteristic sour taste of some wines.
