Landfills earmarked for construction and demolition (C&D;) debris receive a larg
ID: 1062162 • Letter: L
Question
Landfills earmarked for construction and demolition (C&D;) debris receive a large amount of drywall materials (CaSO_4.2H_2O_(s)) as well as organic matter containing wastes. The infiltration of rainwater in such landfills produces acetic acid (CH_3COOH) rich leachates creating an aqueous phase within landfills. There are reports of such a landfill polluting a nearby town with a rotten egg like odor. Based on your current knowledge of water chemistry, use what you think could be relevant chemical reactions to identify the smelly compound by showing reactions involved in its genesis and atmospheric dispersal.Explanation / Answer
the smelly egg odor must be H2S or any sulfur derivative, even solid Sulfur...
It is most common to have H2S, since it will bond readily rather to remain as solid Sulfur
CaSO4 --> Ca+2 + SO4-2
and SO4-2 may also bind to form H2SO4 from water
H2SO4 will also experiment decompoisition
2H2SO --> H2S + H2O
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