General Science • ChemistryHard
What is the oxidation state of sulfur in sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3)?
A. +2
B. +4
C. Average +2, but structurally one is +6 and the other is -2✓ Correct Answer
D. 0
💡 Solution & Explanation
In sodium thiosulfate, the two sulfur atoms are chemically inequivalent due to their bonding environments, resulting in one terminal sulfur having an oxidation state of +6 and the central sulfur having -2, averaging out mathematically to +2. Simple calculations often obscure these distinct structural oxidation states within complex polyatomic ions.
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