sulphur trioxide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very lowTechnical/scientific
Quick answer
What does “sulphur trioxide” mean?
The chemical compound SO₃, a highly reactive oxide of sulphur.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The chemical compound SO₃, a highly reactive oxide of sulphur.
A colourless to white crystalline solid that reacts violently with water to form sulphuric acid, used in industrial processes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
British English uses 'sulphur'; American English uses 'sulfur' (spelling only).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties outside chemical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sulphur trioxide” in a Sentence
Sulphur trioxide + verb (reacts/forms/decomposes)Verb + sulphur trioxide (produce/generate/handle)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sulphur trioxide” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The catalyst helps to oxidise sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide.
- We must sulphonate carefully to avoid generating excess sulphur trioxide.
American English
- The process converts sulfur dioxide into sulfur trioxide.
- They catalytically oxidize the stream to produce sulfur trioxide.
adverb
British English
- The reaction proceeded sulphur-trioxide-richly.
- The gas was released sulphur-trioxide-like into the chamber.
American English
- The mixture reacted sulfur-trioxide-fast.
- It decomposed sulfur-trioxide-quickly under heat.
adjective
British English
- The sulphur trioxide production was halted.
- A sulphur trioxide vapour cloud formed.
American English
- The sulfur trioxide concentration was measured.
- A sulfur trioxide leak was contained.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, only in chemical manufacturing or safety reports.
Academic
Common in chemistry textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Standard term in chemical engineering and industrial chemistry.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sulphur trioxide”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sulphur trioxide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sulphur trioxide”
- Misspelling as 'sulphur tri-oxide' (hyphenated).
- Confusing it with sulphur dioxide (SO₂).
- Incorrect pronunciation stressing the first syllable of 'trioxide'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is highly corrosive, reacts violently with water, and its fumes are toxic.
Sulphur trioxide (SO₃) has three oxygen atoms and is a solid, while sulphur dioxide (SO₂) has two oxygen atoms and is a gas.
'Sulphur' is the traditional British English spelling; 'sulfur' is the standard American English spelling and the one preferred by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
It is not found free in nature due to its high reactivity, but it is produced on an industrial scale and is a component of atmospheric pollution.
The chemical compound SO₃, a highly reactive oxide of sulphur.
Sulphur trioxide is usually technical/scientific in register.
Sulphur trioxide: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʌl.fə traɪˈɒk.saɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʌl.fər traɪˈɑːk.saɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TRIoxide = THREE oxygen atoms bonded to ONE sulphur atom (S + O₃).
Conceptual Metaphor
Often described as a 'precursor' or 'parent' of sulphuric acid.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary industrial use of sulphur trioxide?