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View Full Version : Oxidation number of Sulphur in [S2O4]-2


phil207
Apr 13, 2008, 10:47 AM
Iodine oxidises Sulphur from +2 in [S2O4]-2 to?? In [S4O6]-2

I work this out to be 2.5 but how can this be? Oxidation numbers surely have to be integers!

Fankyouverymuch! :D

orangegirl
Dec 22, 2010, 06:29 AM
The Sulfur is actually in 2 different Oxidation states in the same molecule. Look at the structure and this becomes more obvious. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Tetrathionate-ion-2D.png

orangegirl
Dec 22, 2010, 06:30 AM
2.5 is correct

Unknown008
Dec 22, 2010, 12:51 PM
This thread is 2 years old. Thank you for looking at the post date before answering. Thanks.