Top topic this week
Back to FAQs
Related FAQs
Frequently Asked Question
Questions asked by users might not always be phrased in the clearest way.
For the frost diagram for sulfur in basic solution what species is the most thermodynamically stable and what species would disproportionate
Accepted Answer
In a basic solution, the most thermodynamically stable sulfur species is sulfate (SO₄²⁻). This is because it has the highest oxidation state (+6) and is the most oxidized species.
The species that would disproportionate are sulfite (SO₃²⁻) and sulfide (S²⁻). Disproportionation is a redox reaction where the same species acts as both the oxidant and reductant.
Sulfite can disproportionate into sulfate and sulfide:
4 SO₃²⁻ + 2 H₂O → 3 SO₄²⁻ + S²⁻ + 4 H⁺
Sulfide can disproportionate into sulfur and polysulfide:
2 S²⁻ + 2 H⁺ → S + H₂S
Note that the conditions in basic solution would favor the disproportionation of sulfite to a larger extent.
Articles you might like