noun
: a colorless flammable very poisonous gas H 2 S that has a disagreeable odor suggestive of rotten eggs and is slightly soluble in water to give a weakly acidic solution, that is formed by putrefaction especially of animal matter, that is found also in many mineral waters, in most volcanic gases, and in most natural gas and petroleum deposits and is formed in many industrial processes (as coking of coal) usually as an objectionable impurity, that is recovered as a by-product from many of these sources or is prepared by the action of an acid on a metallic sulfide or by synthesis from hydrogen and sulfur vapor, and that is used chiefly in making elemental sulfur, sulfuric acid, and other sulfur compounds and in analysis as a precipitant for metallic ions