0. by Michael Timperio, Ryan Pfeffer and Vincent Werkle
Sulfur Cycle
by Michael Timperio, Ryan Pfeffer and Vincent Werkle

1. What is it?
Sulfur Cycle-global circulation of sulfur from the environment to living organisms and back to the environment.

2. The most common chemical forms
Sulfur Dioxide SO₂
Sulfuric Acid H₂SO4
Hydrogen Sulfide H2S
Sulfurous Acid H₂SO3

3. How are they created? SO₂: volcanic activity burning fossil fuels
H₂SO3 & H₂SO4: when the SO₂ reacts with water vapor and oxygen in the atmosphere

4. How is it used by living organisms?
Soil microbes make sulfur available for the plants by converting it to inorganic forms
Plants take it up through the soil
Secondary and tertiary obtain it by consuming
Makes up around 1% of tissue in all living organisms

5. What are the forms it takes in each of the spheres?
Lithosphere: Hydrogen Sulfide H2S
Hydrosphere: Sulfurous Acid H₂SO3 & Sulfurous Acid H₂SO4
Atmosphere: Sulfur Dioxide SO2

6. Fastest and Slowest Parts
Fastest: Combustion of Fossil Fuels leading to the oxidation of Sulfur.
Slowest: When the sulfuric acid is in the atmosphere and sulfur embedded in sedimentary rock

7. How have humans altered the cycle?
Acid Rain- caused by large emissions of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere by human sources.
Ex: Burning fossil fuels such as oil or coal, mining and farming (fertilizer)

8. Burning Fossil Fuels
When fossil fuels are burned, Sulfur is set free and oxides, making sulfur dioxide
human activity and volcanic activity are the only ways sulfur gets into the atmosphere
Sulfur used to be mined
It now is an unwanted byproduct of the fuel industry

9. How to reduce human effect ?
Understand negative effects such as acid rain
Filter smokestacks and exhaust pipes
rely more heavily on alternate energy, and be more energy efficient

10. Fun facts about Sulfur -Sulfur is odorless
- makes up 3% of the earth's mass
- Jupiter is covered in sulfur and sulfur compounds making it yellow
- Penicillin is a sulfur based antibiotic

11. THE END