Kilauea Blows Its Stack. People Are Breathing a Really Nasty Chemical

Kilauea Blows Its Stack. People Are Breathing a Really Nasty Chemical

The Kilauea volcano, in Hawaii, has been acting up lately, and all kinds of nasty stuff is pouring out of it. But perhaps the chemical of most concern – sulfuric acid – doesn't come from the volcano itself. It results from the expulsion of huge amounts of sulfur dioxide gas, the chemical precursor of sulfuric acid. Let's take a look at some hideous chemistry.