what is the oxidation state of sulphur in Na2S4O6
Answers
As a consequence, this compound must have sulfur atoms with mixed oxidation states. Since it is normal for sulfur to have oxidation states of -2, 0, +2, +4, and +6, it is most likely that there are three sulfurs with a +2 oxidation state and one sulfur that is +4. The average of these is +2.5.
Since everyone here seems to agree that the oxidation state of sulfur would be 2.5, I won’t redo the math, but let me say that this oxidation state is impossible. No atom can have a fractional oxidation state - they must be whole numbers (you can’t lose half of an electron). As a consequence, this compound must have sulfur atoms with mixed oxidation states. Since it is normal for sulfur to have oxidation states of -2, 0, +2, +4, and +6, it is most likely that there are three sulfurs with a +2 oxidation state and one sulfur that is +4. The average of these is +2.5.