In the thiosulfate ion $S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -}$ (structure $S - SO X_{3} X^{2 -}$ ), the two sulfur atoms have different individual oxidation numbers. Use the common textbook convention in which the terminal (sulfane) sulfur is treated like a sulfide sulfur. Find the numerical difference between the oxidation number of the central (sulfonate-type) S and that of the terminal S.

Numerical answer type, tolerance 0.01.

Answer: 8

The terminal sulfane S is

- 2

(like sulfide). For the ion,

- 2 + x + 3 (- 2) = - 2

gives the sulfonate S as

x = + 6

. The difference is

6 - (- 2) = 8