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 File:Thiosulfuric acid.png thiosulfate
thiocyanate acid HSCN File: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.