Can someone please double check if I have oxidised the number of sulfur correctly for the following ions? The question is in the description box below.
My answers are #S_20^2-(_4) and s=4+
and the other one s=3
My answers are #S_20^2-(_4) and s=4+
and the other one s=3
1 Answer
Your sulfur-based polyatomic anions are:
#"S"_2"O"_4^(2-)#
#"S"_2"O"_3^(2-)#
Dithionite has four oxygens, each of the typical oxidation state of
#overbrace(2xxO_S)^(S_2) + overbrace(4 xx -2)^(O_4) = overbrace(-2)^"charge"#
and each sulfur has on average,
Thiosulfate has three oxygens, each of the typical oxidation state of
#overbrace(2xxO_S)^(S_2) + overbrace(3 xx -2)^(O_3) = overbrace(-2)^"charge"#
and each sulfur has on average,
In reality this is not true; the second one is a sulfate analog, so we distinguish between the central sulfur and the outer sulfur...
#"S"_2"O"_3^(2-)# then has a central sulfur oxidation state of#+4# and outer sulfur oxidation state of#-2# (just like each oxygen atom).