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JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3bn012

Find the AVERAGE oxidation number of sulfur in the tetrathionate ion $S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -}$ (O is $- 2$ ).

A $+ 5$
B $+ 2$
C $+ 3$
D $+ 2.5$

Answer: D

The sum of oxidation numbers equals the ion charge:

4 x + 6 (- 2) = - 2

, so

4 x = 10

and

x = + 2.5

. (In the structure two S are

+ 5

and two are

0

.)

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