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Forst diagram for sulfur in a basic solution which one would disproportionate
Accepted Answer
In a basic solution, the sulfur species that would disproportionate is sulfite (SO3^2-). Here's why:
Disproportionation involves a single element being both oxidized and reduced in the same reaction.
Sulfite can act as both an oxidizing agent (being reduced to sulfide, S^2-) and a reducing agent (being oxidized to sulfate, SO4^2-). This makes it susceptible to disproportionation in basic conditions.
The relevant half-reactions are:
Oxidation: SO3^2- + 2OH- → SO4^2- + H2O + 2e-
Reduction: SO3^2- + 3H2O + 4e- → S^2- + 6OH-
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