From Handwiki Sulfur oxoacids are chemical compounds that contain sulfur, oxygen, and hydrogen. The best known and most important industrially used is sulfuric acid. Sulfur has several oxoacids; however, some of these are known only from their salts (these are shown in italics in the table below). The acids that have been characterised contain a variety of structural features, for example:
| Acid | Formula | Formal oxidation number | Structure | Related anions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfuric acid | H2SO4 | +6 |
|
Sulfate, SO2−4 and hydrogen sulfate commonly known as bisulfate, HSO−4 | Best known and industrially significant. |
| Polysulfuric acids including disulfuric acid (pyrosulfuric acid) | H2SO4·nSO3 | +6 |
|
Disulfate (commonly known as pyrosulfate), S2O2−7 and trisulfate, S3O2−10 | Pure disulfuric acid melts at 36 °C. Present in fuming sulfuric acid, oleum. Examples known for n = 1 and n = 2. |
| Peroxymonosulfuric acid | H2SO5 | +6 |
|
Peroxomonosulfate, OOSO2−3 | "Caro's acid", a solid melting at 45 °C |
| Peroxydisulfuric acid | H2S2O8 | +6 |
|
Peroxydisulfate, O3SOOSO2−3 | "Marshall's acid", a solid melting at 65 °C. |
| Dithionic acid | H2S2O6 | +5 |
|
Dithionate, O3SSO2−3 | Not isolated in pure form, only concentrated solutions have been prepared |
| Thiosulfuric acid | H2S2O3 | 0 (for the terminal sulfur), +4 (for the central atom) |
|
Thiosulfate, S2O2−3 Hydrogenthiosulfate HS2O−3 (ammonium salt prepared in anhydrous methanol at −80 °C[1]) |
Aqueous solutions decompose. |
| Disulfurous acid or pyrosulfurous acid | H2S2O5 | +5 (of the sulfur atom bonded to 3 oxygen atoms), +3 (of other sulfur atom) |
|
Disulfite commonly known as metabisulfite, S2O2−5 | Not known. |
| Sulfurous acid | H2SO3 | +4 |
|
Bisulfite, HSO−3 and sulfite, SO2−3 | Not known. |
| Dithionous acid | H2S2O4 | +3 |
|
Dithionite, O2SSO2−2 | Not known. |
| Sulfoxylic acid | H2SO2 | +2 | Sulfoxylate, SO2−2 | Free acid not known | |
| Polythionic acid | H2SxO6 | 0 (for the bridging S atoms), +5 (for the terminal central S atoms) |
|
Polythionates, O3S(Sx−2)SO2−3. Example trithionate, tetrathionate, pentathionate, hexathionate, heptathionate, octathionate, nonathionate, decathionate, undecathionate, dodecathionate, tridecathionate, and tetradecathionate. | Examples known with x = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14. |
| Thiosulfurous acid | H2S2O2 | −1 (for the exterior sulfur atom ), +3 (for the central atom) | Thiosulfites | Not known | |
| Dihydroxydisulfane | H2S2O2 | +1 | Acid known |
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Categories: [Sulfur oxoacids] [Sulfur compounds]