Question

Difference between sulphate, sulphite, sulphide

Answer 1

Hint:In nature sulphur won’t exist in pure form. Sulphur exists in nature in the form of sulphate, sulphite, sulphide compounds. The different forms of the sulphur are due to the variation in the number of oxygen atoms.

Complete step-by-step answer:- In the question it is asked the differences between sulphate, sulphite, sulphide.
- The molecular or chemical formula of sulphate is $SO_{4}^{2-}$ .
- The oxidation state of sulphur in sulphate is +6.
- The molecular or chemical formula of sulphite is $SO_{3}^{2-}$ .
- The oxidation state of sulphur in sulphite is +4.
- The chemical or molecular formula of ${{S}^{-2}}$ . It is formed by the acceptance of electrons by the sulphur atom.
- The oxidation state of sulphur in sulphide is ‘-2’.
- The main difference between sulphite, sulphate, and sulphide is the number of oxygen atoms and the oxidation state of the sulphur present in the respective derivatives.
- Sulphide is going to exist in three different categories like organic, inorganic and phosphine.
- Sulphate is seen more commonly due to its variety of uses.
- Sulphites have many applications in the food industry to store or preserve the food items.

Therefore the chemical formulas of sulphide, sulphate and sulphite are ${{S}^{-2}},SO_{4}^{2-}and\text{ }SO_{3}^{2-}$ .

Note:All the ions of sulphur like sulphate, sulphite and sulphide have a common charge of ‘-2’ on it. Sulphate and sulphite are the polyatomic ions of sulphur and are formed by the reaction of sulphur with oxygen atoms.