Structure and Oxidataion no.
 

What is the structure of Na2S4O6

IN THIS MOLECULE WHAT IS THE OXIDATION NO. OF SULPHER.

Here are some hints,
Oxidation number of group one metals is +1
Oxidation number of oxygen is -2
The sum of all the oxidation numbers of a neutral molecule is equal to zero.

Now try on your own and just let us know the answer you get. :D

In Na2S4O6
Na +1
O -2
Then 1x2+4S+(-2)x6=0
Soving this we get O.N. of S=2.5

But in a book it is given that in this molecule two S atom has O.N. +5 (i.e. 5+5 = 10 ) and the other two S has zero O.N.

Any comments on this.....

What your book says... :shock: never seen anything like that before!

I'm not 100% sure about this, but I think that in this compound, Na2S4O6, has three O2 2- groups. The oxygen atoms in an O2 2- group have oxidation states of -1; therefore, the oxidation states of the sulfur would be 2.

[quote="asutoshsahu"]In Na2S4O6
Na +1
O -2
Then 1x2+4S+(-2)x6=0
Soving this we get O.N. of S=2.5[quote]

That's how I work it out thusthe answer is 2.5

I've never heard of an oxidation state that isn't an interger. :? :?: If there can be non-interger oxidation states, please inform me. I'm gonna ask my teacher about it as well.

Hey I have got the answer .
I am sending a image file and see how the two S has O.N. +5 and the rest two zero

The two sulfurs shown in red are each bonded to three oxygens and one sulfur, for an oxidation of +3; but they also carry a +2 formal charge, so their oxidation state is +5. On the other hand, the two sulfurs shown in blue are bonded only to sulfur, and have no formal charge; their oxidation state is 0 (zero). The total oxidation states of the four sulfur atoms is 5 + 5 + 0 + 0 = 10, or an average of +2.5.

I asked my teacher and she said that it is possible for an element to have an oxidation number which is not an integer.