What is a common origin of Hydrogen sulfide (H2S)?

The correct answer indicates that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is often a byproduct of oil refining processes. This is because during the refining of crude oil, various sulfur-containing compounds are present. The refining process can convert these compounds into hydrogen sulfide, particularly when removing sulfur impurities from petroleum products. This makes oil refining one of the significant industrial sources of H2S.

While H2S can indeed result from natural processes such as the decomposition of organic matter, as well as other examples like volcanic gas emissions and the detonation of sulfur-containing explosives, the strong association of H2S with oil refineries highlights its relevance in industrial contexts. Hence, the selection of oil refining as a common origin of hydrogen sulfide effectively captures a key aspect of its production.