Hydrogen sulfide - wikipedia Hydrogen sulfide Hydrogen sulfide Names Systematic IUPAC name Hydrogen sulfide Other names Dihydrogen monosulfide Dihydrogen sulfide Sewer gas Sulfane Sulfurated hydrogen Sulfureted hydrogen Sulfuretted hydrogen Sulfur hydride Hydrosulfuric acid Hydrothionic acid Sulfhydric acid Identifiers CAS Number 7783 - 06 - 4 3D model ( JSmol ) Interactive image 3DMet B01206 Beilstein Reference 3535004 ChEBI CHEBI : 16136 ChemSpider 391 ECHA InfoCard 100.029. 070 EC Number 231 - 977 - 3 Gmelin Reference 303 KEGG C00283 MeSH Hydrogen + sulfide PubChem CID 402 RTECS number MX1225000 UNII YY9FVM7NSN UN number 1053 InChI InChI = 1S / H2S / h1H2 Key : RWSOTUBLDIXVET - UHFFFAOYSA - N InChI = 1 / H2S / h1H2 Key : RWSOTUBLDIXVET - UHFFFAOYAJ SMILES Properties Chemical formula Molar mass 34.08 g mol Appearance Colorless gas Odor Rotten eggs Density 1.363 g dm Melting point − 82 ° C ( − 116 ° F ; 191 K ) Boiling point − 60 ° C ( − 76 ° F ; 213 K ) Solubility in water 4 g dm ( at 20 ° C ) Vapor pressure 1740 kPa ( at 21 ° C ) Acidity ( pK ) 7.0 Magnetic susceptibility ( χ ) − 25.5 10 cm / mol Refractive index ( n ) 1.000644 ( 0 ° C ) Structure Point group Molecular shape Bent Dipole moment 0.97 D Thermochemistry Specific heat capacity ( C ) 1.003 JK g Std molar entropy ( S ) 206 J mol K Std enthalpy of formation ( Δ H ) − 21 kJ mol Hazards Safety data sheet External MSDS EU classification ( DSD ) ( outdated ) F+ T+ N R - phrases ( outdated ) R12, R26, R50 S - phrases ( outdated ) ( S1 / 2 ), S9, S16, S36, S38, S45, S61 NFPA 704 0 Flash point − 82.4 ° C ( − 116.3 ° F ; 190.8 K ) Autoignition temperature 232 ° C ( 450 ° F ; 505 K ) Explosive limits 4.3 -- 46 % Lethal dose or concentration ( LD, LC ) : LC ( median concentration ) 713 ppm ( rat, 1 hr ) 673 ppm ( mouse, 1 hr ) 634 ppm ( mouse, 1 hr ) 444 ppm ( rat, 4 hr ) LC ( lowest published ) 600 ppm ( human, 30 min ) 800 ppm ( human, 5 min ) US health exposure limits ( NIOSH ) : PEL ( Permissible ) C 20 ppm ; 50 ppm ( 10 - minute maximum peak ) REL ( Recommended ) C 10 ppm ( 15 mg / m ) ( 10 - minute ) IDLH ( Immediate danger ) 100 ppm Related compounds Related hydrogen chalcogenides Water Hydrogen selenide Hydrogen telluride Hydrogen polonide Hydrogen disulfide Sulfanyl Related compounds Phosphine Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state ( at 25 ° C ( 77 ° F ), 100 kPa ). N verify ( what is ? ) Infobox references Hydrogen sulfide is the chemical compound with the formula H 2S. It is a colorless gas with the characteristic foul odor of rotten eggs. It is very poisonous, corrosive, and flammable. Hydrogen sulfide often results from the microbial breakdown of organic matter in the absence of oxygen gas, such as in swamps and sewers ; this process is commonly known as anaerobic digestion. H 2S also occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas, and in some sources of well water. The human body produces small amounts of H 2S and uses it as a signaling molecule. Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele is credited with having discovered hydrogen sulfide in 1777. The British English spelling of this compound is hydrogen sulphide, but this spelling is not recommended by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry ( IUPAC ) or the Royal Society of Chemistry. Contents 1 Properties 2 Production 3 Uses 3.1 Production of sulfur, thioorganic compounds, and alkali metal sulfides 3.2 Analytical chemistry 3.3 Precursor to metal sulfides 3.4 Miscellaneous applications 4 Occurrence 4.1 Removal from water 4.2 Removal from fuel gases 5 Safety 5.1 Toxicity 5.2 Incidents 5.3 Suicides 6 Research 7 Induced hypothermia and suspended animation 8 Participant in the sulfur cycle 9 Mass extinctions 10 Life adapted to hydrogen sulfide 11 See also 12 References 13 Additional resources 14 External links Properties Hydrogen sulfide is slightly denser than air ; a mixture of H 2S and air can be explosive. Hydrogen sulfide burns in oxygen with a blue flame to form sulfur dioxide ( SO 2 ) and water. In general, hydrogen sulfide acts as a reducing agent, especially in the presence of base, which forms SH. At high temperatures or in the presence of catalysts, sulfur dioxide reacts with hydrogen sulfide to form elemental sulfur and water. This reaction is exploited in the Claus process, an important industrial method to dispose of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is slightly soluble in water and acts as a weak acid ( pK = 6.9 in 0.01 -- 0.1 mol / litre solutions at 18 ° C ), giving the hydrosulfide ion HS. Hydrogen sulfide and its solutions are colorless. When exposed to air, it slowly oxidizes to form elemental sulfur, which is not soluble in water. The sulfide dianion S exists only in strongly alkaline aqueous solutions ; it is exceptionally basic with ap K < 0. Hydrogen sulfide reacts with metal ions to form metal sulfides, which are insoluble, often dark colored solids. Lead ( II ) acetate paper was once used to detect hydrogen sulfide because it readily converts to lead ( II ) sulfide, which is black. Treating metal sulfides with strong acid often liberates hydrogen sulfide. At pressures above 90 GPa ( gigapascal ), hydrogen sulfide becomes a metallic conductor of electricity. When cooled below a critical temperature this high - pressure phase exhibits superconductivity. The critical temperature increases with pressure, ranging from 23 K at 100 GPa to 150 K at 200 GPa. If hydrogen sulfide is pressurized at higher temperatures, then cooled, the critical temperature reaches 203 K ( − 70 ° C ), the highest accepted superconducting critical temperature as of 2015. By substituting a small part of sulfur with phosphorus and using even higher pressures, it has been predicted that it may be possible to raise the critical temperature to above 0 ° C ( 273 K ) and achieve room - temperature superconductivity. Production Hydrogen sulfide is most commonly obtained by its separation from sour gas, which is natural gas with high content of H 2S. It can also be produced by treating hydrogen with molten elemental sulfur at about 450 ° C. Hydrocarbons can serve as a source of hydrogen in this process. Sulfate - reducing ( resp. sulfur - reducing ) bacteria generate usable energy under low - oxygen conditions by using sulfates ( resp. elemental sulfur ) to oxidize organic compounds or hydrogen ; this produces hydrogen sulfide as a waste product. A standard lab preparation is to treat ferrous sulfide with a strong acid in a Kipp generator : FeS + 2 HCl → FeCl + H S For use in qualitative inorganic analysis, thioacetamide is used to generate H 2S : CH C ( S ) NH + H O → CH C ( O ) NH + H S Many metal and nonmetal sulfides, e.g. aluminium sulfide, phosphorus pentasulfide, silicon disulfide liberate hydrogen sulfide upon exposure to water : 6 H O + Al S → 3 H S + 2 Al ( OH ) This gas is also produced by heating sulfur with solid organic compounds and by reducing sulfurated organic compounds with hydrogen. Water heaters can aid the conversion of sulfate in water to hydrogen sulfide gas. This is due to providing a warm environment sustainable for sulfur bacteria and maintaining the reaction which interacts between sulfate in the water and the water heater anode, which is usually made from magnesium metal. Uses Production of sulfur, thioorganic compounds, and alkali metal sulfides The main use of hydrogen sulfide is as a precursor to elemental sulfur. Several organosulfur compounds are produced using hydrogen sulfide. These include methanethiol, ethanethiol, and thioglycolic acid. Upon combining with alkali metal bases, hydrogen sulfide converts to alkali hydrosulfides such as sodium hydrosulfide and sodium sulfide : H S + NaOH → NaSH + H O NaSH + NaOH → Na S + H O These compounds are used in the paper making. Specifically, salts of SH break bonds between lignin and cellulose components of pulp in the Kraft process. Analytical Chemistry For well over a century, hydrogen sulfide was important in analytical chemistry, in the qualitative inorganic analysis of metal ions. In these analyses, heavy metal ( and nonmetal ) ions ( e.g., Pb ( II ), Cu ( II ), Hg ( II ), As ( III ) ) are precipitated from solution upon exposure to H 2S. The components of the resulting precipitate redissolve with some selectivity, and are thus identified. Precursor to metal sulfides As indicated above, many metal ions react with hydrogen sulfide to give the corresponding metal sulfides. This conversion is widely exploited. For example, gases or waters contaminated by hydrogen sulfide can be cleaned with metal sulfides. In the purification of metal ores by flotation, mineral powders are often treated with hydrogen sulfide to enhance the separation. Metal parts are sometimes passivated with hydrogen sulfide. Catalysts used in hydrodesulfurization are routinely activated with hydrogen sulfide, and the behavior of metallic catalysts used in other parts of a refinery is also modified using hydrogen sulfide. Miscellaneous applications Hydrogen sulfide is used to separate deuterium oxide, or heavy water, from normal water via the Girdler sulfide process. Scientists from the University of Exeter discovered that cell exposure to small amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas can prevent mitochondrial damage. When the cell is stressed with disease, enzymes are drawn into the cell to produce small amounts of hydrogen sulfide. This study could have further implications on preventing strokes, heart disease and arthritis. Hydrogen sulfide may have anti-aging properties by blocking destructive chemicals within the cell, bearing similar properties to resveratrol, an antioxidant found in red wine. Occurrence Deposit of sulfur on a rock, caused by volcanic gas Small amounts of hydrogen sulfide occur in crude petroleum, but natural gas can contain up to 90 %. Volcanoes and some hot springs ( as well as cold springs ) emit some H 2S, where it probably arises via the hydrolysis of sulfide minerals, i.e. MS + H 2O → MO + H 2S. Hydrogen sulfide can be present naturally in well water, often as a result of the action of sulfate - reducing bacteria. Hydrogen sulfide is created by the human body in small doses through bacterial breakdown of proteins containing sulfur in the intestinal tract. It is also produced in the mouth ( halitosis ). A portion of global H 2S emissions are due to human activity. By far the largest industrial source of H 2S is petroleum refineries : The hydrodesulfurization process liberates sulfur from petroleum by the action of hydrogen. The resulting H 2S is converted to elemental sulfur by partial combustion via the Claus process, which is a major source of elemental sulfur. Other anthropogenic sources of hydrogen sulfide include coke ovens, paper mills ( using the Kraft process ), tanneries and sewerage. H 2S arises from virtually anywhere where elemental sulfur comes in contact with organic material, especially at high temperatures. Depending on environmental conditions, it is responsible for deterioration of material through the action of some sulfur oxidizing microorganisms. It is called biogenic sulfide corrosion. In 2011 it was reported that increased concentration of H 2S, possibly due to oil field practices, was observed in the Bakken formation crude and presented challenges such as `` health and environmental risks, corrosion of wellbore, added expense with regard to materials handling and pipeline equipment, and additional refinement requirements ''. Besides living near a gas and oil drilling operations, ordinary citizens can be exposed to hydrogen sulfide by being near waste water treatment facilities, landfills and farms with manure storage. Exposure occurs through breathing contaminated air or drinking contaminated water. Removal from water A number of processes designed to remove hydrogen sulfide from drinking water. Continuous chlorination For levels up to 75 mg / L chlorine is used in the purification process as an oxidizing chemical to react with hydrogen sulfide. This reaction yields insoluble solid sulfur. Usually the chlorine used is in the form of sodium hypochlorite. Aeration For concentrations of hydrogen sulfide less than 2 mg / L aeration is an ideal treatment process. Oxygen is added to water and a reaction between oxygen and hydrogen sulfide react to produce odorless sulfate Nitrate addition Calcium nitrate can be used to prevent hydrogen sulfide formation in wastewater streams. Removal from fuel gases Hydrogen sulfide is commonly found in raw natural gas and biogas. It is typically removed by amine gas treating technologies. In such processes, the hydrogen sulfide is first converted to an ammonium salt, whereas the natural gas is unaffected. RNH + H S ⇌ RNH + 3 + SH The bisulfide anion is subsequently regenerated by heating of the amine sulfide solution. Hydrogen sulfide generated in this process is typically converted to elemental sulfur using the Claus Process. Process flow diagram of a typical amine treating process used in petroleum refineries, natural gas processing plants and other industrial facilities. Safety Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic and flammable gas ( flammable range : 4.3 -- 46 % ). Being heavier than air, it tends to accumulate at the bottom of poorly ventilated spaces. Although very pungent at first, it quickly deadens the sense of smell, so victims may be unaware of its presence until it is too late. For safe handling procedures, a hydrogen sulfide safety data sheet ( SDS ) should be consulted. Toxicity Hydrogen sulfide is a broad - spectrum poison, meaning that it can poison several different systems in the body, although the nervous system is most affected. The toxicity of H 2S is comparable with that of carbon monoxide. It binds with iron in the mitochondrial cytochrome enzymes, thus preventing cellular respiration. Since hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally in the body, the environment, and the gut, enzymes exist to detoxify it. At some threshold level, believed to average around 300 -- 350 ppm, the oxidative enzymes become overwhelmed. Many personal safety gas detectors, such as those used by utility, sewage and petrochemical workers, are set to alarm at as low as 5 to 10 ppm and to go into high alarm at 15 ppm. Detoxification is effected by oxidation to sulfate, which is harmless. Hence, low levels of hydrogen sulfide may be tolerated indefinitely. Diagnostic of extreme poisoning by H 2S is the discolouration of copper coins in the pockets of the victim. Treatment involves immediate inhalation of amyl nitrite, injections of sodium nitrite, or administration of 4 - dimethylaminophenol in combination with inhalation of pure oxygen, administration of bronchodilators to overcome eventual bronchospasm, and in some cases hyperbaric oxygen therapy ( HBOT ). HBOT has clinical and anecdotal support. Exposure to lower concentrations can result in eye irritation, a sore throat and cough, nausea, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs ( pulmonary edema ). These effects are believed to be due to the fact that hydrogen sulfide combines with alkali present in moist surface tissues to form sodium sulfide, a caustic. These symptoms usually go away in a few weeks. Long - term, low - level exposure may result in fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, poor memory, and dizziness. Chronic exposure to low level H 2S ( around 2 ppm ) has been implicated in increased miscarriage and reproductive health issues among Russian and Finnish wood pulp workers, but the reports have not ( as of circa 1995 ) been replicated. Short - term, high - level exposure can induce immediate collapse, with loss of breathing and a high probability of death. If death does not occur, high exposure to hydrogen sulfide can lead to cortical pseudolaminar necrosis, degeneration of the basal ganglia and cerebral edema. Although respiratory paralysis may be immediate, it can also be delayed up to 72 hours. 0.00047 ppm or 0.47 ppb is the odor threshold, the point at which 50 % of a human panel can detect the presence of an odor without being able to identify it. 10 ppm is the OSHA permissible exposure limit ( PEL ) ( 8 hour time - weighted average ). 10 -- 20 ppm is the borderline concentration for eye irritation. 20 ppm is the acceptable ceiling concentration established by OSHA. 50 ppm is the acceptable maximum peak above the ceiling concentration for an 8 - hour shift, with a maximum duration of 10 minutes. 50 -- 100 ppm leads to eye damage. At 100 -- 150 ppm the olfactory nerve is paralyzed after a few inhalations, and the sense of smell disappears, often together with awareness of danger. 320 -- 530 ppm leads to pulmonary edema with the possibility of death. 530 -- 1000 ppm causes strong stimulation of the central nervous system and rapid breathing, leading to loss of breathing. 800 ppm is the lethal concentration for 50 % of humans for 5 minutes ' exposure ( LC50 ). Concentrations over 1000 ppm cause immediate collapse with loss of breathing, even after inhalation of a single breath. Incidents Hydrogen sulfide was used by the British Army as a chemical weapon during World War I. It was not considered to be an ideal war gas, but, while other gases were in short supply, it was used on two occasions in 1916. In 1975, a hydrogen sulfide release from an oil drilling operation in Denver City, Texas, killed nine people and caused the state legislature to focus on the deadly hazards of the gas. State Representative EL Short took the lead in endorsing an investigation by the Texas Railroad Commission and urged that residents be warned `` by knocking on doors if necessary '' of the imminent danger stemming from the gas. One may die from the second inhalation of the gas, and a warning itself may be too late. On September 2, 2005, a leak in the propeller room of a Royal Caribbean Cruise Liner docked in Los Angeles resulted in the deaths of 3 crewmen due to a sewage line leak. As a result, all such compartments are now required to have a ventillation system. A dump of toxic waste containing hydrogen sulfide is believed to have caused 17 deaths and thousands of illnesses in Abidjan, on the West African coast, in the 2006 Côte d'Ivoire toxic waste dump. In 2014, Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide as high as 83 ppm have been detected at a recently built mall in Thailand called Siam Square One at the Siam Square area. Shop tenants at the mall reported health complications such as sinus inflammation, breathing difficulties and eye irritation. After investigation it was determined that the large amount of gas originated from imperfect treatment and disposal of waste water in the building. In November 2014, a substantial amount of hydrogen sulfide gas shrouded the central, eastern and southeastern parts of Moscow. Residents living in the area were urged to stay indoors by the emergencies ministry. Although the exact source of the gas was not known, blame had been placed on a Moscow oil refinery. In June 2016, a mother and her daughter were found deceased in their still - running Porsche Cayenne SUV against a guardrail on Florida 's Turnpike, initially thought to be victims of Carbon monoxide poisoning. Their deaths remained unexplained as the medical examiner waited for results of toxicology tests on the victims, until urine tests revealed that hydrogen sulfide was the cause of death. A report from the Orange - Osceola Medical Examiner 's Office indicated that toxic fumes came from the Porsche 's battery, located under the front passenger seat. In January 2017, three utility workers in Key Largo, Florida, died one by one within seconds of descending into a narrow space beneath a manhole cover to check a section of paved street, the hole was filled with hydrogen sulfide and methane gas created from years of rotted vegetation. In an attempt to save the men, a firefighter who entered the hole without his air tank ( because he could not fit through the hole with it ) collapsed within seconds and had to be rescued by a colleague. The firefighter was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital and later recovered. Suicides The gas, produced by mixing certain household ingredients, was used in a suicide wave in 2008 in Japan. The wave prompted staff at Tokyo 's suicide prevention center to set up a special hot line during `` Golden Week '', as they received an increase in calls from people wanting to kill themselves during the annual May holiday. As of 2010, this phenomenon has occurred in a number of US cities, prompting warnings to those arriving at the site of the suicide. These first responders, such as emergency services workers or family members are at risk of death from inhaling lethal quantities of the gas, or by fire. Local governments have also initiated campaigns to prevent such suicides. Research Hydrogen sulfide is derived from cysteine by the enzymes cystathionine beta - synthase, cystathionine gamma - lyase, and 3 - mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase. Hydrogen sulfide may act as an endothelium - derived relaxing factor from which it could affect vascular resistance, and may be an endothelium - derived hyperpolarizing factor. The gas is metabolized to sulfite in the mitochondria by thiosulfate reductase, and the sulfite is further oxidized to thiosulfate and sulfate by sulfite oxidase. The sulfates are excreted in the urine. Hydrogen sulfide is under preliminary research for its potential actions in the brain where it could increase the response of the NMDA receptor and facilitate long term potentiation. Its effects are potentially similar to those of nitric oxide, whereby hydrogen sulfide may have an effect on cardiovascular disease. Although both nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide relax blood vessels in vitro, their mechanisms of action differ : nitric oxide activates the enzyme guanylyl cyclase, whereas H 2S activates ATP - sensitive potassium channels in smooth muscle cells. Induced hypothermia and suspended animation In 2005, it was shown that mice can be put into a state of suspended animation - like hypothermia by applying a low dosage of hydrogen sulfide ( 81 ppm H 2S ) in the air. The breathing rate of the animals sank from 120 to 10 breaths per minute and their temperature fell from 37 ° C to just 2 ° C above ambient temperature ( in effect, they had become cold - blooded ). The mice survived this procedure for 6 hours and afterwards showed no negative health consequences. In 2006 it was shown that the blood pressure of mice treated in this fashion with hydrogen sulfide did not significantly decrease. A similar process known as hibernation occurs naturally in many mammals and also in toads, but not in mice. ( Mice can fall into a state called clinical torpor when food shortage occurs. ) If the H 2S - induced hibernation can be made to work in humans, it could be useful in the emergency management of severely injured patients, and in the conservation of donated organs. In 2008, hypothermia induced by hydrogen sulfide for 48 hours was shown to reduce the extent of brain damage caused by experimental stroke in rats. As mentioned above, hydrogen sulfide binds to cytochrome oxidase and thereby prevents oxygen from binding, which leads to the dramatic slowdown of metabolism. Animals and humans naturally produce some hydrogen sulfide in their body ; researchers have proposed that the gas is used to regulate metabolic activity and body temperature, which would explain the above findings. Two recent studies cast doubt that the effect can be achieved in larger mammals. A 2008 study failed to reproduce the effect in pigs, concluding that the effects seen in mice were not present in larger mammals. Likewise a paper by Haouzi et al. noted that there is no induction of hypometabolism in sheep, either. At the February 2010 TED conference, Mark Roth announced that hydrogen sulfide induced hypothermia in humans had completed Phase I clinical trials. The clinical trials commissioned by the company he helped found, Ikaria, were however withdrawn or terminated by August 2011. Participant in the sulfur cycle Main article : Sulfur cycle Sludge from a pond ; the black color is due to metal sulfides Hydrogen sulfide is a central participant in the sulfur cycle, the biogeochemical cycle of sulfur on Earth. In the absence of oxygen, sulfur - reducing and sulfate - reducing bacteria derive energy from oxidizing hydrogen or organic molecules by reducing elemental sulfur or sulfate to hydrogen sulfide. Other bacteria liberate hydrogen sulfide from sulfur - containing amino acids ; this gives rise to the odor of rotten eggs and contributes to the odor of flatulence. As organic matter decays under low - oxygen ( or hypoxic ) conditions ( such as in swamps, eutrophic lakes or dead zones of oceans ), sulfate - reducing bacteria will use the sulfates present in the water to oxidize the organic matter, producing hydrogen sulfide as waste. Some of the hydrogen sulfide will react with metal ions in the water to produce metal sulfides, which are not water - soluble. These metal sulfides, such as ferrous sulfide FeS, are often black or brown, leading to the dark color of sludge. Several groups of bacteria can use hydrogen sulfide as fuel, oxidizing it to elemental sulfur or to sulfate by using dissolved oxygen, metal oxides ( e.g., Fe oxyhydroxides and Mn oxides ) or nitrate as oxidant. The purple sulfur bacteria and the green sulfur bacteria use hydrogen sulfide as electron donor in photosynthesis, thereby producing elemental sulfur. ( In fact, this mode of photosynthesis is older than the mode of cyanobacteria, algae, and plants, which uses water as electron donor and liberates oxygen. ) The biochemistry of hydrogen sulfide is an important part of the chemistry of the iron - sulfur world. In this model of the origin of life on Earth, geologically produced hydrogen sulfide is postulated as an electron donor driving the reduction of carbon dioxide. Mass extinctions Main article : Anoxic event A hydrogen sulfide bloom ( green ) stretching for about 150km along the coast of Namibia. As oxygen - poor water reaches the coast, bacteria in the organic - matter rich sediment produce hydrogen sulfide which is toxic to fish. ( The image is taken from a bird 's eye view. ) Hydrogen sulfide has been implicated in several mass extinctions that have occurred in the Earth 's past. In particular, a buildup of hydrogen sulfide in the atmosphere may have caused the Permian - Triassic extinction event 252 million years ago. Organic residues from these extinction boundaries indicate that the oceans were anoxic ( oxygen - depleted ) and had species of shallow plankton that metabolized H 2S. The formation of H 2S may have been initiated by massive volcanic eruptions, which emitted carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, which warmed the oceans, lowering their capacity to absorb oxygen that would otherwise oxidize H 2S. The increased levels of hydrogen sulfide could have killed oxygen - generating plants as well as depleted the ozone layer, causing further stress. Small H 2S blooms have been detected in modern times in the Dead Sea and in the Atlantic ocean off the coast of Namibia. Life adapted to hydrogen sulfide High levels of hydrogen sulfide are lethal to most animals, but a few highly specialized species ( extremophiles ) do thrive in habitats that are rich in this chemical. Freshwater springs rich in hydrogen sulfide are mainly home to invertebrates, but also include a small number of fish : Cyprinodon bobmilleri ( a pupfish from Mexico ), Limia sulphurophila ( a poeciliid from the Dominican Republic ), Gambusia eurystoma ( a poeciliid from Mexico ), and a few Poecilia ( poeciliids from Mexico ). Invertebrates and microorganisms in some cave systems, such as Movile Cave, are adapted to high levels of hydrogen sulfide. 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Jump up ^ County of Los Angeles : Department of Public Health ( PDF ) http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/reports/spclrpts/spcrpt05/DeathsHydrogenSulfide05.pdf. Missing or empty title = ( help ) Jump up ^ `` Gas Kills 3 Crewmen on Ship ''. Los Angeles Times. Jump up ^ `` Do not breathe : Dangerous, toxic gas found at Siam Square One ''. Coconuts Bangkok. Coconuts Media. Retrieved 20 November 2014. Jump up ^ `` Russian capital Moscow shrouded in noxious gas ''. BBC News Europe. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 December 2014. Jump up ^ `` Sources : Mom, daughter found dead in Porsche likely died from carbon monoxide ''. WFTV. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Both had red skin and rash - like symptoms, and had vomited, sources said. Jump up ^ Salinger, Tobias ( 4 October 2016 ). `` Woman, girl died after inhaling hydrogen sulfide, coroners say ''. New York Daily News. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ Lotan, Gal Tziperman ( 4 October 2016 ). `` Hydrogen sulfide inhalation killed mother, toddler found on Florida 's Turnpike in June ''. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ Zilber, Ariel. `` Florida woman and her daughter who died in Porsche inhaled toxic gas ''. dailymail.co.uk. Mail Online. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ Kealing, Bob. `` Medical examiner confirms suspected cause of deaths in Turnpike mystery ''. Archived from the original on 2016 - 10 - 05. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 04. Jump up ^ Bell, Lisa ( 19 March 2017 ). `` Hidden car dangers you should be aware of ''. ClickOrlando.com. Produced by Donovan Myrie. WKMG - TV. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Porsche Cayennes, along with a few other vehicles, have their batteries in the passenger compartment. Jump up ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/01/18/three-utility-workers-descend-to-their-deaths-in-florida-manhole-overcome-by-fumes/ Jump up ^ Rabin, Charles ; Goodhue, David ( 16 January 2017 ). `` Three Keys utility workers die in wastewater trench ''. Miami Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ Herrin, Becky ( 16 January 2017 ). `` Detectives investigating deaths of three men ''. floridakeyssheriff.blogspot.com. Monroe County Sheriff 's Office. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ Goodhue, David ( 17 January 2017 ). `` Firefighter who tried to save 3 men in a manhole is fighting for his life ''. Miami Herald. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ `` Key Largo firefighter takes first steps since nearly getting killed ''. WSVN. 18 January 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. Jump up ^ `` Firefighter who survived Key Largo rescue attempt that killed 3 leaves hospital ''. Sun - Sentinel. Associated Press. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017. 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Bibcode : 2007PNAS... 10417907L. PMC 2084269. PMID 17991773. doi : 10.1073 / pnas. 0709010104. Retrieved 2008 - 09 - 26. Jump up ^ Paul, B.D. ; Snyder, S.H. `` H S signalling through protein sulfhydration and beyond. ''. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 13 : 499 -- 507. PMID 22781905. doi : 10.1038 / nrm3391. Jump up ^ Kamoun, Pierre ( July 2004 ). `` H S, a new neuromodulator ''. Médecine / Sciences. 20 ( 6 -- 7 ) : 697 -- 700. PMID 15329822. doi : 10.1051 / medsci / 2004206 - 7697. Jump up ^ Kimura, Hideo ( 2002 ). `` Hydrogen sulfide as a neuromodulator ''. Molecular Neurobiology. 26 ( 1 ) : 13 -- 19. PMID 12392053. doi : 10.1385 / MN : 26 : 1 : 013. Jump up ^ Toxic Gas, Lifesaver, Scientific American, March 2010 Jump up ^ `` BBC News - Science / Nature - Mice put in ' suspended animation ' ''. bbc.co.uk. Jump up ^ `` BBC News - Science / Nature - Mice put in ' suspended animation ' ''. bbc.co.uk. Jump up ^ Florian, B. ; Vintilescu, R. ; Balseanu, A.T. ; Buga, A. - M. ; Grisk, O. ; Walker, L.C. ; Kessler, C. ; Popa - Wagner, A. ( 2008 ). `` Long - term hypothermia reduces infarct volume in aged rats after focal ischemia ''. Neuroscience Letters. 438 ( 2 ) : 180 -- 185. PMID 18456407. doi : 10.1016 / j. neulet. 2008.04. 020. Jump up ^ Roth, Mark B. ; Nystul, Todd ( 1 June 2005 ). `` Buying Time in Suspended Animation ''. Scientific American. Jump up ^ Li, Jia ; Zhang, Gencheng ; Cai, Sally ; Redington, Andrew N. ( January 2008 ). `` Effect of inhaled hydrogen sulfide on metabolic responses in anesthetized, paralyzed, and mechanically ventilated piglets ''. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. 9 ( 1 ) : 110 -- 112. PMID 18477923. doi : 10.1097 / 01. PCC. 0000298639.08519. 0C. Retrieved 2008 - 02 - 07. H S does not appear to have hypometabolic effects in ambiently cooled large mammals and conversely appears to act as a hemodynamic and metabolic stimulant. Jump up ^ Haouzi, P. ; Notet, V. ; Chenuel, B. ; Chalon, B ; Sponne, I. ; Ogier, V. ; et al. ( 2008 ). `` H S induced hypometabolism in mice is missing in sedated sheep ''. Respir. Physiol. Neurobiol. 160 ( 1 ) : 109 -- 115. PMID 17980679. doi : 10.1016 / j. resp. 2007.09. 001. Jump up ^ `` Mark Roth : Suspended animation is within our grasp ''. Jump up ^ `` IK - 1001 ( Sodium Sulfide ( Na S ) for Injection ) in Subjects With Acute ST - Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction ''. ClinicalTrials.gov. 2010 - 11 - 04. This study has been withdrawn prior to enrollment. ( Company decision. Non-safety related ) Jump up ^ `` Reduction of Ischemia - Reperfusion Mediated Cardiac Injury in Subjects Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery ''. ClinicalTrials.gov. 2011 - 08 - 03. This study has been terminated. ( Study Terminated - Company decision ) Jump up ^ Barton, Larry L. ; Fardeau, Marie - Laure ; Fauque, Guy D. ( 2014 ). `` Chapter 10. Hydrogen Sulfide : A Toxic Gas Produced by Dissimilatory Sulfate and Sulfur Reduction and Consumed by Microbial Oxidation ''. In Kroneck, Peter M.H. ; Sosa Torres, Martha E. The Metal - Driven Biogeochemistry of Gaseous Compounds in the Environment. Metal Ions in Life Sciences. 14. Springer. pp. 237 -- 277. doi : 10.1007 / 978 - 94 - 017 - 9269 - 1_10. Jump up ^ Jørgensen, B.B. ; Nelson, D.C. ( 2004 ). `` Sulfide oxidation in marine sediments : Geochemistry meets microbiology ''. In Amend, J.P. ; Edwards, K.J. ; Lyons, T.W. Sulfur Biogeochemistry -- Past and Present. Geological Society of America. pp. 36 -- 81. Jump up ^ `` The very first surface organism can be characterized as a catalyst for accelerating the formation of pyrite by providing a catalytic pathway for the flow of electrons from hydrogen sulfide to carbon dioxide. '' Wächtershäuser, Günter ( 1988 - 12 - 01 ). `` Before enzymes and templates : theory of surface metabolism ''. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 52 ( 4 ) : 452 -- 84. PMC 373159. PMID 3070320. Retrieved July 25, 2015. ^ Jump up to : `` Impact From the Deep '' in the October 2006 issue of Scientific American ^ Jump up to : Tobler, M ; Riesch, R. ; García de León, F.J. ; Schlupp, I. ; Plath, M. ( 2008 ). `` Two endemic and endangered fishes, Poecilia sulphuraria ( Álvarez, 1948 ) and Gambusia eurystoma Miller, 1975 ( Poeciliidae, Teleostei ) as only survivors in a small sulphidic habitat ''. Journal of Fish Biology. 72 : 523 -- 533. doi : 10.1111 / j. 1095 - 8649.2007. 01716. x. Jump up ^ Palacios, Maura ; Arias - Rodríguez, Lenín ; Plath, Martin ; Eifert, Constanze ; Lerp, Hannes ; Lamboj, Anton ; Voelker, Gary ; Tobler, Michael ( 2013 ). `` The Rediscovery of a Long Described Species Reveals Additional Complexity in Speciation Patterns of Poeciliid Fishes in Sulfide Springs. ''. PLoS ONE. 8 ( 8 ) : e71069. PMC 3745397. PMID 23976979. doi : 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0071069. Jump up ^ Kumaresan, Deepak ; Wischer, Daniela ; Stephenson, Jason ; Hillebrand - Voiculescu, Alexandra ; Murrell, J. Colin ( 2014 ). `` Microbiology of Movile Cave -- A Chemolithoautotrophic Ecosystem ''. Geomicrobiology Journal. 31 ( 3 ) : 186 -- 193. ISSN 0149 - 0451. doi : 10.1080 / 01490451.2013. 839764. Jump up ^ Bernardino, Angelo F. ; Levin, Lisa A. ; Thurber, Andrew R. ; Smith, Craig R. ( 2012 ). `` Comparative Composition, Diversity and Trophic Ecology of Sediment Macrofauna at Vents, Seeps and Organic Falls. ''. PLoS ONE. 7 ( 4 ) : e33515. PMC 3319539. PMID 22496753. doi : 10.1371 / journal. pone. 0033515. Jump up ^ `` Hydrothermal Vents ''. Marine Society of Australia. Retrieved 28 December 2014. Additional resources Committee on Medical and Biological Effects of Environmental Pollutants ( 1979 ). Hydrogen Sulfide. Baltimore : University Park Press. ISBN 0 - 8391 - 0127 - 9. Siefers, Andrea ( 2010 ). A novel and cost - effective hydrogen sulfide removal technology using tire derived rubber particles ( MS thesis ). Iowa State University. Retrieved 8 February 2013. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydrogen sulfide. International Chemical Safety Card 0165 Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 53 National Pollutant Inventory - Hydrogen sulfide fact sheet NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards NACE ( National Association of Corrosion Epal ) Hydrogen compounds H AsO H AsO HAt HSO F HBF HBr HBrO HBrO HBrO HBrO HCl HClO HClO HClO HClO HCN HCNO H CrO / H Cr O H CO H CS HF HFΟ HI HIO HIO HIO HIO HMnO H MoO HNC NaHCO HNCO HNO HNO HNO H N O HNO S H NSO H O H O H O H PO H PO H PO H P O H P O H PtCl H Se H SeO H SeO H SiO H SiF HSCN HNSC H SO H SO H SO H S O H S O H S O H S O CF SO H H Te H TeO H TeO H TiO H Po HCo ( CO ) Neurotransmitters Amino acid - derived Major excitatory / inhibitory systems : Glutamate system : Agmatine Aspartic acid ( aspartate ) Cycloserine Glutamic acid ( glutamate ) Glutathione Glycine GSNO GSSG Kynurenic acid NAA NAAG Proline Serine ; GABA system : GABA GABOB GHB ; Glycine system : α - Alanine β - Alanine Glycine Hypotaurine Proline Sarcosine Serine Taurine ; GHB system : GHB T - HCA ( GHC ) Biogenic amines : Monoamines : 6 - OHM Dopamine Epinephrine ( adrenaline ) NAS ( normelatonin ) Norepinephrine ( noradrenaline ) Serotonin ( 5 - HT ) ; Trace amines : 3 - Iodothyronamine N - Methylphenethylamine N - Methyltryptamine m - Octopamine p - Octopamine Phenylethanolamine Phenethylamine Synephrine Tryptamine m - Tyramine p - Tyramine ; Others : Histamine Neuropeptides : See here instead. Lipid - derived Endocannabinoids : 2 - AG 2 - AGE ( noladin ether ) 2 - ALPI 2 - OG AA - 5 - HT Anandamide ( AEA ) DEA LPI NADA NAGly OEA Oleamide PEA RVD - Hpα SEA Virodhamine ( O - AEA ) Neurosteroids : See here instead. Nucleobase - derived Nucleosides : Adenosine system : Adenosine ADP AMP ATP Vitamin - derived Cholinergic system : Acetylcholine Miscellaneous Gasotransmitters : Carbon monoxide ( CO ) Hydrogen sulfide ( H S ) Nitric oxide ( NO ) ; Candidates : Acetaldehyde Ammonia ( NH ) Carbonyl sulfide ( COS ) Nitrous oxide ( N O ) Sulfur dioxide ( SO ) Damps Afterdamp Blackdamp Firedamp Stinkdamp Whitedamp Sulfur compounds Al S As S As S As S As S Au S BaS BeS Bi S Br S CS CaS CdS CeS SCl S Cl CoS Cr S CuS Dy S Er S EuS SF SF FeS GaS HfS HgS InS LaS LiS MgS MoS NiS SO SO PbS PbS PtS ReS SrS TlS SV SeS S U WS Sb S Sb S Sm S Y S Ag SO SOBr CSTe CaSO CuFeS H SO H SO F OS NaHS K SO O S Sb Yb ( SO ) AlKO S CHCl S KSCN CdSO PSCl SOCl Cs O S Re S Na S H S O H SO NH S HgSO K SO RaSO SnSO SrSO Zr ( SO ) Ti ( SO ) Tm ( SO ) AlNa ( SO ) Er ( SO ) Eu ( SO ) CHNS Co ( SCN ) C H SN PSI ZrS SiS CSSe Chemical formulas Molecules detected in outer space Molecules Diatomic Aluminium monochloride Aluminium monofluoride Aluminium monoxide Argonium Carbon monophosphide Carbon monosulfide Carbon monoxide Carborundum Cyanogen radical Diatomic carbon Fluoromethylidynium Hydrogen chloride Hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen ( molecular ) Hydroxyl radical Iron ( II ) oxide Magnesium monohydride cation Methylidyne radical Nitric oxide Nitrogen ( molecular ) Nitrogen monohydride Nitrogen sulfide Oxygen ( molecular ) Phosphorus monoxide Phosphorus mononitride Potassium chloride Silicon carbide Silicon mononitride Silicon monoxide Silicon monosulfide Sodium chloride Sodium iodide Sulfur monohydride Sulfur monoxide Titanium oxide Triatomic Aluminium hydroxide Aluminium isocyanide Amino radical Carbon dioxide Carbonyl sulfide CCP radical Chloronium Diazenylium Dicarbon monoxide Disilicon carbide Ethynyl radical Formyl radical Hydrogen cyanide ( HCN ) Hydrogen isocyanide ( HNC ) Hydrogen sulfide Hydroperoxyl Iron cyanide Isoformyl Magnesium cyanide Magnesium isocyanide Methylene radical Nitrous oxide Nitroxyl Ozone Phosphaethyne Potassium cyanide Protonated molecular hydrogen Sodium cyanide Sodium hydroxide Silicon carbonitride c - Silicon dicarbide Silicon naphthalocyanine Sulfur dioxide Thioformyl Thioxoethenylidene Titanium dioxide Tricarbon Water Four atoms Acetylene Ammonia Cyanic acid Cyanoethynyl Cyclopropynylidyne Formaldehyde Fulminic acid HCCN Hydrogen peroxide Hydromagnesium isocyanide Isocyanic acid Isothiocyanic acid Ketenyl Methylene amidogen Methyl radical Propynylidyne Protonated carbon dioxide Protonated hydrogen cyanide Silicon tricarbide Thioformaldehyde Tricarbon monoxide Tricarbon sulfide Thiocyanic acid Five atoms Ammonium ion Butadiynyl Carbodiimide Cyanamide Cyanoacetylene Cyanoformaldehyde Cyanomethyl Cyclopropenylidene Formic acid Isocyanoacetylene Ketene Methane Methoxy radical Methylenimine Propadienylidene Protonated formaldehyde Protonated formaldehyde Silane Silicon - carbide cluster Six atoms Acetonitrile Cyanobutadiynyl radical E-Cyanomethanimine Cyclopropenone Diacetylene Ethylene Formamide HC N Ketenimine Methanethiol Methanol Methyl isocyanide Pentynylidyne Propynal Protonated cyanoacetylene Seven atoms Acetaldehyde Acrylonitrile Vinyl cyanide Cyanodiacetylene Ethylene oxide Hexatriynyl radical Methylacetylene Methylamine Methyl isocyanate Vinyl alcohol Eight atoms Acetic acid Aminoacetonitrile Cyanoallene Ethanimine Glycolaldehyde Heptatrienyl radical Hexapentaenylidene Methylcyanoacetylene Methyl formate Propenal Nine atoms Acetamide Cyanohexatriyne Cyanotriacetylene Dimethyl ether Ethanol Methyldiacetylene Octatetraynyl radical Propene Propionitrile Ten atoms or more Acetone Benzene Buckminsterfullerene ( C fullerene, buckyball ) C fullerene Cyanodecapentayne Cyanopentaacetylene Cyanotetra - acetylene Ethylene glycol Ethyl formate Methyl acetate Methyl - cyano - diacetylene Methyltriacetylene Propanal n - Propyl cyanide Pyrimidine Deuterated molecules Ammonia Ammonium ion Formaldehyde Formyl radical Heavy water Hydrogen cyanide Hydrogen deuteride Hydrogen isocyanide Methylacetylene Trihydrogen cation Unconfirmed Anthracene Dihydroxyacetone Ethyl methyl ether Glycine Graphene H NCO Linear C Naphthalene cation Phosphine Pyrene Silylidine Related Abiogenesis Astrobiology Astrochemistry Atomic and molecular astrophysics Chemical formula Circumstellar envelope Cosmic dust Cosmic ray Cosmochemistry Diffuse interstellar band Earliest known life forms Extraterrestrial life Extraterrestrial liquid water Forbidden mechanism Helium hydride ion Homochirality Intergalactic dust Interplanetary medium Interstellar medium Photodissociation region Iron -- sulfur world theory Kerogen Molecules in stars Nexus for Exoplanet System Science Organic compound Outer space PAH world hypothesis Panspermia Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ( PAH ) RNA world hypothesis Spectroscopy Tholin Book : Chemistry Category : Astrochemistry Category : Molecules Portal : Astrobiology Portal : Astronomy Portal : Chemistry Binary compounds of hydrogen Alkali metal hydrides LiH NaH KH RbH CsH Lithium hydride, LiH ionic metal hydride Beryllium hydride Left ( gas phase ) : BeH covalent metal hydride Right : ( BeH ) ( solid phase ) polymeric metal hydride Borane and diborane Left : BH ( special conditions ), covalent metalloid hydride Right : B H ( standard conditions ), dimeric metalloid hydride Methane, CH covalent nonmetal hydride Ammonia, NH covalent nonmetal hydride Water, H O covalent nonmetal hydride Hydrogen fluoride, HF covalent nonmetal hydride Alkaline earth hydrides Monohydrides BeH MgH CaH SrH BaH BeH MgH CaH SrH BaH Group 13 hydrides Boranes BH Alanes AlH Al H Gallanes GaH Ga H Indiganes InH In H Thallanes TlH Tl H Group 14 hydrides Linear alkanes CH more... Linear alkenes more... Linear alkynes more... Silanes SiH Si H Si H Si H Si H Si H Si H Si H Si H Si H more... Silenes Si H Silynes Si H Germanes GeH Ge H Ge H Ge H Ge H Stannanes SnH Sn H Plumbanes PbH CH CH CH Cycloalkanes Cycloalkenes Annulenes Many more Pnictogen hydrides Azanes NH more... Azenes Phosphanes PH more... Phosphenes Arsanes AsH As H Stibanes SbH Bismuthanes BiH HN NH radical Hydrogen chalcogenides Polyoxidanes H O H O H O H O H O H O H O H O H O H O more... Polysulfanes more... Selanes H Se H Se Tellanes H Te H Te Polanes PoH HO HO HO H O -- O H S = S ( HS ) S+ -- S -- HS HDO D O T O Hydrogen halides HF HCl HBr HI HAt Transition metal hydrides ScH YH YH TiH ZrH HfH VH VH NbH NbH TaH CrH CrH CrH NiH PdH ( x < 1 ) FeH FeH FeH CuH ZnH CdH HgH Lanthanide hydrides LaH LaH CeH CeH PrH PrH NdH NdH SmH SmH EuH GdH GdH TbH TbH DyH DyH HoH HoH ErH ErH TmH TmH YbH YbH LuH LuH Actinide hydrides AcH ThH Th H PaH UH NpH NpH PuH PuH AmH AmH CmH LCCN : sh85063433 GND : 4180440 - 5 NDL : 00575761 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hydrogen_sulfide&oldid=808025342 '' Categories : Acids Foul - smelling chemicals Hydrogen compounds Industrial gases Pollutants Sulfides Flatulence Gaseous signaling molecules Hidden categories : Pages with citations lacking titles Pages with citations having bare URLs Webarchive template wayback links ECHA InfoCard ID from Wikidata Chembox having DSD data Articles containing unverified chemical infoboxes All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from April 2011 All articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from June 2015 Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Bosanski Català Чӑвашла Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית ქართული Кыргызча Latviešu Lietuvių Magyar മലയാളം Bahasa Melayu Монгол Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Polski Português Română Русский Scots Shqip Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska தமிழ் తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 31 October 2017, at 12 : 36. 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Question: what is the odor threshold for hydrogen sulfide
Answer: 0.00047 ppm or 0.47 ppb