Nomenclature of inorganic sulfur compounds

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Simple oxyacids of sulfur and their salts[edit | edit source]

Simple oxyacids of sulfur
acid summary formula structural pattern salt older and trivial names
sulphuric acid H2SO3 File:Sulphuric acid.png sulfite
sulfuric acid H2SO4 File:Sulphuric acid.png sulfate vitriol

Peroxyacids and their salts[edit | edit source]

Peroxyacids have a peroxo group -O-O- instead of -O- oxygen in the molecule.

Sulfur peroxyacids
acid summary formula structural pattern salt older and trivial names
peroxysulfuric acid H2SO5 File:Peroxysulphuric acid.png peroxysulfate
peroxodisulfuric acid H2S2O8 File:Peroxodisulfuric acid.png peroxodisulphate persulphuric acid, persulphate

Polyacids and their salts[edit | edit source]

Polyacids are theoretically formed by removing water from two molecules of a simple oxoacid (which is why they used to be called ``pyro acids).

Sulfur polyacids
acid summary formula structural pattern salt older and trivial names
sulfuric acid H2S2O5 disulfite pyrosulfuric, disulphurous acid; pyrosulfite, bisulfite
disulfuric acid H2S2O7 File:Disulfuric acid.png disulfide pyrosulfuric acid, disulphurous; pyrosulfate, bisulfate
peroxodisulfuric acid H2S2O8 File:Peroxodisulfuric acid.png peroxodisulphate persulphuric acid, persulphate

Thioacids and their salts[edit | edit source]

Thioacids are theoretically formed by replacing oxygen -O- in oxyacid with sulfur -S-:

H2SO4 sulfuric acid – H2S2O3 thiosulfuric acid.
Thioacids
acid summary formula structural pattern salt older and trivial names
thiosulfuric acid H2S2O3 Thiosulfuric acid.png thiosulfate
thiocyanate acid HSCN Thiocyanic acid.png thiocyanate "rhodanic acid, rhodanide"

Dithionic acid, thionic acids and their salts[edit | edit source]

These compounds contain a chain of several covalently linked sulfur atoms.

Dithionic acid, thionic acids
acid summary formula structural pattern salt older and trivial names
dithionic acid H2S2O4 File:Dithionic acid.png dithionite
dithionic acid H2S2O6 File:Dithionic acid.png dithionan
trithionic acid H2S3O6 File:Trithionic acid.png trithionan
tetra-, penta-, hexathionic acid H2SnO6 File:Thionic acids.png tetra-, penta-, hexathione

Hydrogen sulfide and sulfides[edit | edit source]

From hydrogen sulfide H2S is derived the oxygen-free hydrogen sulfide with the same formula. Its salts are sulphides. Sulfur can also form polysulfides, e.g. FeS2 iron disulfide (pyrite).


Links[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  • HIRŠOVÁ, Danuše. Chemical Nomenclature. Basic rules of Czech, traditional Latin and international Latin pharmacopoeial nomenclature. 2. edition. Prague : Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Publishers, 2004. ISBN 80-246-0761-1.