Photochemistry of HOSO and SO and Implications for the Production of Sulfuric Acid.

Sulfur trioxide (SO) and the hydroxysulfonyl radical (HOSO) are two key intermediates in the production of sulfuric acid (HSO) on Earth's atmosphere, one of the major components of acid rain. Here, the photochemical properties of these species are determined by means of high-level quantum chemical methodologies, and the potential impact of their light-induced reactivity is assessed within the context of the conventional acid rain generation mechanism. Results reveal that the photodissociation of HOSO occurs primarily in the stratosphere through the ejection of hydroxyl radicals (OH) and sulfur dioxide (SO). This may decrease the production rate of HSO in atmospheric regions with low O concentration. In contrast, the photostability of SO under stratospheric conditions suggests that its removal efficiency, still poorly understood, is key to assess the HSO formation in the upper atmosphere.