sulfur trioxide

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. an irritant, corrosive, low-melting solid, SO 3 , obtained by the oxidation of sulfur dioxide, used as an intermediate in the manufacture of sulfuric acid.

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sulfur trioxide Scientific  

1. A colorless, highly reactive, corrosive compound that exists either as a liquid or as a solid. As a solid, it exists in three forms that may coexist in a given sample. Sulfur trioxide is used as an intermediate in manufacturing sulfuric acid, and in making sulfonates from organic compounds. Chemical formula: SO ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of sulfur trioxide

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Researchers at Tampere University have discovered that sulfur trioxide can form products other than sulfuric acid in the atmosphere by interacting with organic and inorganic acids.

From Science Daily • May 23, 2024

A necessary step in the manufacture of sulfuric acid is the formation of sulfur trioxide, SO3, from sulfur dioxide, SO2, and oxygen, O2, shown here.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Pure sulfuric acid is a colorless, oily liquid that freezes at 10.5 °C. It fumes when heated because the acid decomposes to water and sulfur trioxide.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The heating process causes the loss of more sulfur trioxide than water, until reaching a concentration of 98.33% acid.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

Similarly, spongy platinum accelerates the oxidation of sulfur dioxide to sulfur trioxide, in the commercial manufacture of sulfuric acid.

From The Chemistry of Plant Life by Thatcher, Roscoe Wilfred