Difference between revisions of "Thiosulfate"

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The thiosulfate ion is a sulfur oxoanion with the formula S₂O₃^2-. It is derived from sulfate, but a sulfur atom replaces an oxygen atom within the structure.

Properties

The thiosulfate ion has a charge of -2. Sodium thiosulfate, the primary source of the ion, has an interesting hexagonal crystal structure. Because of its three oxygen molecules, the thiosulfate ion can complex, forming a thiosulfato complex. Thiosulfate isn't stable in acidic conditions, only neutral and basic.

Thiosulfuric acid does not exist at temperatures obtainable by the amateur chemist. When protonated, the ion forms sulfur and sulfur dioxide. The sulfur produced forms a colloidial suspension with the water, and can be used to demonstrate Rayleigh scattering.

Thiosulfates are capable of reducing halogens to halides. When this occurs, the thiosulfate is oxidized to tetrathionate (S₄O₆^2-) in the presence of iodine, or sulfate in the presence of bromine or chlorine. This property is used in iodometric titrations to reduce a starch-iodine complex.

Preparation

Thiosulfates can be prepared by heating a concentrated solution containing six moles of an alkali metal hydroxide with four moles of sulfur powder, then cooling it down and let the thiosulfate fall out of solution. Sodium hydroxide is preferred for this, as potassium hydroxide forms potassium thiosulfate, which is extremely hygroscopic.

Projects

• Iodine clock reaction
• Redox titrations
• Removing iodine or bromine stains

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads

• Thiosulfate Complex