Why does the chemical reaction proceed this way and not another?

Question

Hello, this might be a really stupid question, but why doesn't carbon disulfide simply form when C and S2 are packed together? Why do we need the sulfur dioxide? It's about the reaction equation in the picture. I would have assumed that S2, ie, S combined with S, doesn't occur very often, but I don't know why.
Thanks in advance!!

jenerderbleibt · Answer

I wouldn't be so sure that the reaction of C and SO2 will take place like this (at least I've never seen the reaction before).

Short supplement. The Hollemann-Wiberg even writes the following:

The oxidizing effect of the SO2 is shown only when heated with particularly strong reducing agents (Mg, Al, K, etc.), since the oxygen atoms, as shown by the high enthalpy of education, are very firmly bonded. Accordingly, sulfur dioxide does not maintain combustion. Thus, for example, fires can be extinguished inside chimneys by burning off sulfur at the bottom. The sulfur then binds all oxygen, so that the carbon black (carbon) can no longer burn.

The reaction SO2 +C will thus not proceed.

And to your reaction proposal: Thus, CS2 was actually produced in the past. At room temperature, however, sulfur occurs predominantly as S8 and does not like to react there. Therefore, it is reacted with carbon at more than 800° C. (as the S8 rings break and there are mainly S2 molecules).