ON THE NATURE OF SULPHUROUS ACID

Abstract

Repeated attempts to detect by infrared spectrometry stable H2SO3 molecules in aqueous solutions of "sulphurous acid" or in frozen mixtures of SO2 and H2O have given only negative results. Sulphur dioxide dissolved in water exists mostly in the molecular state, the HSO3− and HS2O5− ions being formed in small amounts as a result of the equilibria[Formula: see text]There is very little interaction between SO2 and H2O molecules in condensed phases.