PERSULFATE

The term persulfate refers to ions or compounds with more oxygen than normal sulfates.

These do not have sulfur in a different oxidation state; rather, they contain peroxide units, where two oxygens take the place of one in a normal sulfate; the oxygen atoms have oxidation state −1.

The main forms are "peroxymonosulfates" and "peroxydisulfates".

Ions

• Peroxymonosulfate ion, SO₅⁻²
• Peroxydisulfate ion, S₂O₈⁻²

Acids

• Peroxymonosulfuric acid (persulfuric acid), H₂SO₅
• Peroxydisulfuric acid, H₂S₂O₈

Example salts

• Sodium peroxymonosulfate, Na₂SO₅
• Sodium peroxydisulfate, Na₂S₂O₈