The Molecular Nature of the Hydrophilic Sulfur Prepared from Aqueous Sulfide and Sulfite (Selmi Sulfur Sol) [1]

Abstract

Hydrophilic sulfur sols prepared by reaction of aqueous sulfide and sulfite at low pH have been studied by chemical analysis, ion-pair chromatography, and reversed-phase HPLC. The approximate composition of the sol is x(NaHSO4/Na2SO4). ySn. zNa2SmO6with n = 6—10 and m = 4—16. The elemental sulfur Sn accounts for 17% and the polythionate sulfur for 10% of the dry weight (sulfate: 18% On aging of the sol at 20 °C the long-chain polythionates decompose to elemental sulfur and tetrathionate as well as pentathionate. The higher chemical reactivity of this sol compared to S8is explained by the fact that 45% of the zero oxidation state sulfur (S°) are present as non-S8molecules. 0932-0776/89/0500-0526/$ 01.00/0. © 1989, Verlag der Zeitschrift für Naturforschung. All rights reserved.