Hydrogen sulfide

Hydrogen Sulfide is a colorless, flammable, extremely hazardous gas with a "rotten egg" smell. It occurs naturally in crude petroleum, natural gas, and hot springs. In the environment, it is produced from the breakdown of organic materials. It is also produced by human and animal wastes. Bacteria found in your mouth and gastrointestinal tract produce hydrogen sulfide from bacteria decomposing materials that contain vegetable or animal proteins. Hydrogen sulfide is used or produced in a number of industries, such as oil refining and mining.

Chemical Properties

Hydrogen sulfide is a chemical compound with the formula H2S. It is a colorless chalcogen hydride gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. It is very poisonous, corrosive, and flammable.

Health Effects

Exposure to low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide may cause irritation to the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also cause difficulty in breathing for some asthmatics. Brief exposures to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (greater than 500 ppm) can cause a loss of consciousness and possibly death. In many individuals, there may be permanent or long-term effects such as headaches, poor attention span, poor memory, and poor motor function.

Safety Measures

Direct skin contact with hydrogen sulfide gas can cause a rash or burns. In case of direct skin contact, the affected area should be washed with soap and water. If the gas is inhaled, the person should be moved to fresh air immediately.

See Also

• Chemical compound
• Petroleum
• Natural gas
• Hot springs
• Bacteria
• Protein
• Oil refining
• Mining

References

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