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JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3pn158

In the tetrathionate ion, (structure ), the oxidation numbers of the terminal and the middle sulphur atoms are, respectively

  1. A+2.5 for all four sulphur atoms
  2. B+4 and +1
  3. C+5 and 0
  4. D+6 and

Answer: C

Each terminal S carries a sulphonate-type group with three S-O bonds (one double), giving +5. The two middle S atoms are bonded only to S and to each other, so they are 0. Check: 2(+5) + 2(0) + 6(-2) = -2.
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