Carbonyl sulfide

Carbonyl sulfide is a colorless, flammable gas with formula OCS, in which carbon is bonded to oxygen and sulfur. It is the most abundant sulfur-containing gas in Earth's atmosphere.

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Molecular geometry: The three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. Carbonyl sulfide has a linear O–C–S structure, shaped by bonding around its central carbon.
Gross primary production: The total rate at which plants and other photosynthetic organisms fix carbon dioxide. Plant uptake of carbonyl sulfide can serve as a proxy for this otherwise difficult-to-measure flux.
Volcanic gas: Gas emitted from volcanoes, including during eruptions and through persistent vents. Volcanic emissions release carbonyl sulfide directly into the atmosphere.
Atmospheric lifetime: The average time a substance remains in the atmosphere before removal or chemical transformation. Carbonyl sulfide persists for years, allowing emissions to mix widely before removal.
Carbon dioxide: A colorless gas with formula CO₂, produced by respiration and combustion and used in photosynthesis. Replacing one oxygen in carbon dioxide with sulfur yields carbonyl sulfide, with different reactivity and sources.
Infrared spectroscopy: A method that identifies molecular vibrations by measuring absorption of infrared light. Its characteristic vibrational absorption lines let scientists detect atmospheric carbonyl sulfide.
Stomata: Microscopic pores in plant surfaces that regulate gas exchange and water loss. Carbonyl sulfide enters leaves through stomata along with carbon dioxide.
Biomass burning: The burning of living or recently living vegetation in fires or human-set burns. Combustion of vegetation is a major natural source of carbonyl sulfide.
Stratospheric sulfate aerosols: Tiny sulfuric-acid-containing particles suspended in the stratosphere. Oxidation of carbonyl sulfide supplies sulfur that can contribute to these aerosols.
Carbon diselenide: A linear molecule with formula CSe₂, containing carbon double-bonded to two selenium atoms. It illustrates how replacing oxygen and sulfur changes the properties of related chalcogen compounds.