Thiosulfuric acid

Thiosulfuric acid is the inorganic compound with the formula H₂S₂O₃. It has attracted academic interest as a simple, easily accessed compound that is labile. It has few practical uses.

Preparation and degradation

The acid cannot be made by acidifying aqueous thiosulfate salt solutions as the acid readily decomposes in water. The decomposition products can include sulfur, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, polysulfanes, sulfuric acid and polythionates, depending on the reaction conditions. Anhydrous methods of producing the acid were developed by Max Schmidt:

H₂S SO₃ → H₂S₂O₃

Na₂S₂O₃ 2 HCl → 2 NaCl H₂S₂O₃

HSO₃Cl H₂S → HCl H₂S₂O₃

The anhydrous acid also decomposes above −5 °C:

H₂S₂O₃ → H₂S SO₃

Structure

The isomer (O=)₂S(−OH)(−SH) is more stable than the isomer (O=)(S=)S(−OH)₂ as established by Hartree–Fock/ab initio calculations with a 6-311 G** basis set and MP2 to MP4 refinements. The theoretically predicted structure conforms with the double bond rule.

An isomer of thiosulfuric acid is the adduct of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur trioxide, H₂S·SO₃, which can also be prepared at low temperature. It is a white crystalline solid.

References