Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 21, 2026

Trithionate

Trithionate is an oxyanion of sulfur with the chemical formula S3O2−6. It is the conjugate base of trithionic acid. Dilute sodium hydroxide hydrolyzes S4N4 as follows, yielding sodium thiosulfate and sodium trithionate:2 S4N4 + 6 NaOH + 9 H2O → Na2S2O3 + 2 Na2S3O6 + 8 NH3

Last revised
Jun 21, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
210 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Trithionate
source ↗
Names
IUPAC name
2,2,4,4-tetraoxido-1,5-dioxy-2,3,4-trisulfy-[5]catenate(2−)
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
142337
KEGG
  • InChI=1S/H2O6S3/c1-8(2,3)7-9(4,5)6/h(H,1,2,3)(H,4,5,6)/p-2
    Key: KRURGYOKPVLRHQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • [O-][S+2]([O-])([O-])S[S+2]([O-])([O-])[O-]
Properties
O6S3−2
Molar mass 192.18 g·mol−1
Conjugate acid Trithionic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Trithionate is an oxyanion of sulfur with the chemical formula S
3O2−
6. It is the conjugate base of trithionic acid.1 Dilute sodium hydroxide hydrolyzes S
4N
4 as follows, yielding sodium thiosulfate and sodium trithionate:2

2 S
4N
4 + 6 NaOH + 9 H
2O → Na
2S
2O
3 + 2 Na
2S
3O
6 + 8 NH
3

Certain sulfate-reducing bacteria have been known to use the compound in respiration.3

References

References

  1. Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. doi:10.1016/C2009-0-30414-6. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8.
  2. Roesky, H. W.; Glemser, Oskar; Hoff, Alfred (1968-04-01). "Zur Hydrolyse des Thiazylfluorids und Tetraschwefeltetranitrids und über die Reaktion von Natriumthiosulfat mit Salzsäure". Chemische Berichte. 101 (4): 1215–1222. doi:10.1002/cber.19681010413.
  3. Oltmann, L. F.; Stouthamer, A. H. (1975-10-27). "Reduction of tetrathionate, trithionate and thiosulphate, and oxidation of sulphide in proteus mirabilis". Archives of Microbiology. 105 (2): 135–142. Bibcode:1975ArMic.105..135O. doi:10.1007/BF00447128. ISSN 0302-8933. PMID 1106343. S2CID 1615795.