What is the name of S2O3?

1 Answer
anor277
May 1, 2016

S2O2−3 is the thiosulfate anion. Note that this has a formal, double negative charge.

Explanation:

In a thiosulfate group one sulfur atom has formally replaced one of the oxygen atoms of sulfate dianion, SO2−4.

In sulfate, the oxidation number of S=+VI. We could imagine that in thiosulfate, the central S also has this oxidation state, and the terminal sulfur has an oxidation state of −II, i.e. the same oxidation state as the oxygen atoms, which are in the same Group as sulfur. The average 6−22=+II is the same as we would get if we assumed the sulfurs were in equivalent oxidation states.

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