Question

Sulfur forms a wide variety of compounds in which it has \(+6\), \(+4,+2,0\), and \(-2\) oxidation states. Give examples of sulfur compounds having each of these oxidation states.

Short answer

Examples of sulfur compounds with different oxidation states are: 1. Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), where sulfur has an oxidation state of +6. 2. Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), where sulfur has an oxidation state of +4. 3. Hydrogen sulfite (HSO₃⁻), where sulfur has an oxidation state of +2. 4. Elemental sulfur (S₈), where sulfur has an oxidation state of 0. 5. Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), where sulfur has an oxidation state of -2.

Step-by-step solution

Example of Sulfur with an Oxidation State of +6

One example of a sulfur compound with an oxidation state of +6 is sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). In this molecular structure, the sulfur atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms and has a double bond with two of them. This results in a total oxidation state of +6 because the sulfur atom loses 6 electrons in these bonds.

Example of Sulfur with an Oxidation State of +4

A compound where sulfur has an oxidation state of +4 is sulfur dioxide (SO₂). In this molecule, the sulfur atom forms a double bond with two oxygen atoms. Each double bond results in an oxidation state of +2, which adds up to a total oxidation state of +4 for sulfur.

Example of Sulfur with an Oxidation State of +2

An example of a sulfur compound with an oxidation state of +2 is hydrogen sulfite (HSO₃⁻). In this ion, the sulfur atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms and has a double bond with one of them. The resulting oxidation state for the sulfur atom is +2, as it loses 2 electrons in the bond formation.

Example of Sulfur with an Oxidation State of 0

Sulfur in its elemental form, sulfur (S₈), has an oxidation state of 0. This molecule consists of 8 sulfur atoms connected in a ring, and since all the atoms are the same element, there is no transfer of electrons in the bond formation, leaving the oxidation state of each sulfur atom at 0.

Example of Sulfur with an Oxidation State of -2

The most common example of a sulfur compound with an oxidation state of -2 is hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). In this molecule, sulfur forms single covalent bonds with two hydrogen atoms. Since sulfur is more electronegative than hydrogen, it gains one electron from each hydrogen atom, resulting in a -2 oxidation state for the sulfur atom.