Definition

Noun: A colorless, poisonous, flammable gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. Its chemical formula is H₂S. It occurs naturally in crude petroleum, natural gas, and volcanic gases, and is produced by the bacterial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen.

Usage

Hydrogen sulfide is used as a specific term in scientific, industrial, and safety contexts. It is typically treated as a non-count noun (uncountable).

Examples

• The distinct smell of hydrogen sulfide is often noticeable near geothermal springs.
• Workers in the oil industry must monitor for hydrogen sulfide due to its extreme toxicity.
• Hydrogen sulfide is produced in significant amounts during the anaerobic digestion of sewage.

Advanced Usage

• "Hydrogen sulfide poisoning": Refers to the harmful, often fatal, effects of inhaling the gas.
  • Emergency responders were trained to recognize the symptoms of hydrogen sulfide poisoning.
• In chemistry, it is discussed in the context of its properties (e.g., its solubility, acidity, or role as a reducing agent).
  • The experiment demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide reacts with metal ions to form insoluble sulfides.

Variants and Related Words

• H₂S: The standard chemical formula for hydrogen sulfide, used interchangeably in technical writing.
• Sulfhydric acid: An alternative name for hydrogen sulfide when considered in an aqueous solution.
• Sewer gas: A common term for a mixture of gases, often containing hydrogen sulfide, found in sewer systems.
• Sulfide (noun): A broader chemical class of compounds containing the S²⁻ ion, of which hydrogen sulfide is the simplest member.

Synonyms

• Stink damp: A mining term for hydrogen sulfide gas.
• Sour gas: In the oil and gas industry, natural gas containing significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide.

Related Phrases

• Hydrogen sulfide scavenger: A chemical compound used to remove hydrogen sulfide from a gas or fluid stream.
  • The company injected a hydrogen sulfide scavenger into the pipeline to purify the natural gas.

Noun

1. a sulfide having the unpleasant smell of rotten eggs