ContaminantDB: Hydrogen sulfide

Identification Taxonomy Biological Properties Physical Properties Toxicity Profile Spectra Concentrations Links References Targets (1)XML

Record Information

Version

1.0

Creation Date

2009-03-06 18:58:15 UTC

Update Date

2026-05-14 20:14:23 UTC

Accession Number

CHEM000171

Identification

Common Name

Hydrogen sulfide

Class

Small Molecule

Description

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic and flammable gas. Because it is heavier than air it tends to accumulate at the bottom of poorly ventilated spaces. Although very pungent at first, it quickly deadens the sense of smell, so potential victims may be unaware of its presence until it is too late. H2S arises from virtually anywhere where elemental sulfur comes into contact with organic material, especially at high temperatures. Hydrogen sulfide is a covalent hydride chemically related to water (H2O) since oxygen and sulfur occur in the same periodic table group. It often results when bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, such as in swamps, and sewers (alongside the process of anaerobic digestion). It also occurs in volcanic gases, natural gas and some well waters. It is also important to note that Hydrogen sulfide is a central participant in the sulfur cycle, the biogeochemical cycle of sulfur on Earth. As mentioned above, sulfur-reducing and sulfate-reducing bacteria derive energy from oxidizing hydrogen or organic molecules in the absence of oxygen by reducing sulfur or sulfate to hydrogen sulfide. Other bacteria liberate hydrogen sulfide from sulfur-containing amino acids. Several groups of bacteria can use hydrogen sulfide as fuel, oxidizing it to elemental sulfur or to sulfate by using oxygen or nitrate as oxidant. The purple sulfur bacteria and the green sulfur bacteria use hydrogen sulfide as electron donor in photosynthesis, thereby producing elemental sulfur. (In fact, this mode of photosynthesis is older than the mode of cyanobacteria, algae and plants which uses water as electron donor and liberates oxygen).

Contaminant Sources

Clean Air Act Chemicals
EAFUS Chemicals
FooDB Chemicals
HMDB Contaminants - Feces
HPV EPA Chemicals
OSHA Hazardous Chemicals
T3DB toxins
Tobacco Smoke Compounds

Contaminant Type

Bacterial Toxin
Household Toxin
Human Neurotoxin
Industrial Precursor/Intermediate
Industrial/Workplace Toxin
Inorganic Compound
Lachrymator
Metabolite
Natural Compound
Non-Metal

Chemical Structure

MOL SDF PDB SMILES InChI

Synonyms

Value	Source
[SH2]	ChEBI
Acide sulfhydrique	ChEBI
Dihydrogen monosulfide	ChEBI
Dihydrogen sulfide	ChEBI
H2S	ChEBI
Hydrogen monosulfide	ChEBI
Hydrogen sulphide	ChEBI
Hydrogen-sulfide	ChEBI
Hydrogene sulfure	ChEBI
HYDROsulfURIC ACID	ChEBI
Schwefelwasserstoff	ChEBI
Sulfide	ChEBI
Sulfure d'hydrogene	ChEBI
Acide sulphhydrique	Generator
Dihydrogen monosulphide	Generator
Dihydrogen sulphide	Generator
Hydrogen monosulphide	Generator
Hydrogen-sulphide	Generator
Hydrogene sulphure	Generator
HYDROsulfate	Generator
HYDROsulphate	Generator
HYDROsulphuric acid	Generator
Sulphide	Generator
Sulphure d'hydrogene	Generator
Dihydrogen disulfide	HMDB
Hepatate	HMDB
Hepatic acid	HMDB
Hepatic gas	HMDB
Hydrosulfurate	HMDB
Idrogeno solforato	HMDB
Sewer gas	HMDB
Siarkowodor	HMDB
Sour gas	HMDB
Stink dAMP	HMDB
Sulfur hydride	HMDB
Sulfur hydroxide	HMDB
Sulfureted hydrogen	HMDB
Sulfuretted hydrogen	HMDB
Zwavelwaterstof	HMDB
Sulfide, hydrogen	HMDB
Hydrogen sulfide (H2(SX))	HMDB
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S2)	HMDB
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S3)	HMDB

Chemical Formula

H₂S

Average Molecular Mass

34.081 g/mol

Monoisotopic Mass

33.988 g/mol

CAS Registry Number

7783-06-04

IUPAC Name

Not Available

Traditional Name

hydrogen sulfide

SMILES

InChI Identifier

InChI=1S/H2S/h1H2

InChI Key

RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Chemical Taxonomy

Description

belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as other non-metal sulfides. These are inorganic compounds containing a sulfur atom of an oxidation state of -2, in which the heaviest atom bonded to the oxygen belongs to the class of other non-metals.

Kingdom

Inorganic compounds

Super Class

Homogeneous non-metal compounds

Class

Other non-metal organides

Sub Class

Other non-metal sulfides

Direct Parent

Other non-metal sulfides

Alternative Parents

Inorganic sulfides

Substituents

Other non-metal sulfide
Inorganic sulfide

Molecular Framework

Not Available

External Descriptors

hydracid (CHEBI:16136 )
sulfur hydride (CHEBI:16136 )
mononuclear parent hydride (CHEBI:16136 )
Inorganic fungicides (C00087 )
an inorganic compound (HS )

Biological Properties

Status

Detected and Not Quantified

Origin

Endogenous

Cellular Locations

Cytoplasm
Extracellular

Biofluid Locations

Not Available

Tissue Locations

Brain
Colon
Intestine
Nerve Cells
Neuron

Pathways

Not Available

Applications

vasodilator agent

Biological Roles

Chemical Roles

Not Available

Physical Properties

State

Gas

Appearance

Colorless gas. (18)

Experimental Properties

Property	Value
Melting Point	-85.49°C
Boiling Point	-60.28 °C (212.87°K)
Solubility	3.74 mg/mL at 21°C

Predicted Properties

Property	Value	Source
logP	-0.038	ChemAxon
Physiological Charge	-1	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count	0	ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count	1	ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area	0 Å²	ChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count	0	ChemAxon
Refractivity	7.36 m³·mol⁻¹	ChemAxon
Polarizability	3.45 Å³	ChemAxon
Number of Rings	0	ChemAxon
Bioavailability	1	ChemAxon
Rule of Five	Yes	ChemAxon
Ghose Filter	No	ChemAxon
Veber's Rule	Yes	ChemAxon
MDDR-like Rule	No	ChemAxon

Spectra

Spectrum Type	Description	Splash Key	View
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (2 TMS)	splash10-03di-1900000000-447434090a2b915c1731	Spectrum
GC-MS	GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized)	splash10-03di-1900000000-447434090a2b915c1731	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-3a89a2549173c5c1687f	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted GC-MS	Predicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positive	Not Available	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-2d63abb89fd699a31707	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-2d63abb89fd699a31707	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-2d63abb89fd699a31707	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-2d63abb89fd699a31707	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-2d63abb89fd699a31707	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-2d63abb89fd699a31707	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-05710009cb2405db27bd	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-05710009cb2405db27bd	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-05710009cb2405db27bd	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-05710009cb2405db27bd	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-05710009cb2405db27bd	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-05710009cb2405db27bd	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-942ac689538269d6ca7b	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-942ac689538269d6ca7b	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negative	splash10-001i-9000000000-942ac689538269d6ca7b	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-db65f6d26b49c6300706	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-db65f6d26b49c6300706	Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MS	Predicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positive	splash10-001i-9000000000-db65f6d26b49c6300706	Spectrum
MS	Mass Spectrum (Electron Ionization)	splash10-001i-9000000000-5373be1d46feb66d09a8	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum
1D NMR	1H NMR Spectrum	Not Available	Spectrum

Toxicity Profile

Route of Exposure

Oral; inhalation; dermal

Mechanism of Toxicity

Although very pungent at first, hydrogen sulfide quickly deadens the sense of smell, so potential victims may be unaware of its presence until it is too late. Hydrogen sulfide forms a complex bond with iron in the mitochondrial cytochrome enzymes, thereby blocking oxygen from binding and stopping cellular respiration. (18)

Metabolism

Not Available

Toxicity Values

Not Available

Lethal Dose

Not Available

Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)

No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).

Uses/Sources

Volcanoes and hot springs emit some hydrogen sulfide, where it probably arises via the hydrolysis of sulfide minerals. Hydrogen sulfide can be present naturally in well water; it can be removed using ozone or a filter with manganese dioxide. About 10% of total global emissions of H2S is due to human activity. By far the largest industrial route to hydrogen sulfide occurs in petroleum refineries. Other anthropogenic sources of hydrogen sulfide include coke ovens, paper mills, and tanneries. H2S arises from virtually anywhere where elemental sulfur comes into contact with organic material, especially at high temperatures. Being heavier than air, H2S tends to accumulate at the bottom of poorly ventilated spaces. (18)

Minimum Risk Level

Not Available

Health Effects

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly toxic and flammable gas. Hydrogen sulfide is considered a broad-spectrum poison, meaning that it can poison several different systems in the body, although the nervous system is most affected. The toxicity of hydrogen sulfide is comparable with that of hydrogen cyanide. (18)

Symptoms

Exposure to lower concentrations can result in eye irritation, a sore throat and cough, nausea, shortness of breath, and fluid in the lungs; these symptoms usually go away in a few weeks. Long-term, low-level exposure may result in fatigue, loss of appetite, headaches, irritability, poor memory, and dizziness. Higher concentrations of 700-800 ppm tend to be fatal. (18)

Treatment

Treatment involves immediate inhalation of amyl nitrite, injections of sodium nitrite, inhalation of pure oxygen, administration of bronchodilators to overcome eventual bronchospasm, and in some cases hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). HBO therapy has anecdotal support and remains controversial. (18)

Concentrations

Not Available

External Links

DrugBank ID

Not Available

HMDB ID

HMDB0003276

FooDB ID

FDB030910

Phenol Explorer ID

Not Available

KNApSAcK ID