The aqueous reduction of divalent mercury by sulfite

Divalent Hg is reduced by sulfite in aqueous solutions. The proposed mechanism involves the formation of an instable intermediate, HgSO₃, which decomposes to produce Hg⁺ which in turn is rapidly reduced to Hg⁰. The overall rate of the reaction is inversely dependent on the concentration of sulfite. This reaction may influence the concentration of Hg in cloud- and rain-water by reducing water soluble Hg²⁺ to volatile Hg⁰. At low concentrations of SO₂(g) (5 μg m⁻³, 25 °C), the rate of the conversion of Hg(SO₃)₂ ²⁻ to Hg⁰ becomes significant (> 1 % h⁻¹) at pH < 5.5. At higher S02 concentrations (500 pg m⁻³), the same rate is expected at pH < 4.5.