Arrange the sulfur oxoanions in increasing order of the AVERAGE oxidation number of sulfur: thiosulfate S2O3^2-, tetrathionate S4O6^2-, dithionite S2O4^2-, dithionate S2O6^2-.

S2O3^2- < S4O6^2- < S2O4^2- < S2O6^2-

S2O3^2- < S2O4^2- < S4O6^2- < S2O6^2-

S4O6^2- < S2O3^2- < S2O4^2- < S2O6^2-

S2O3^2- < S4O6^2- < S2O4^2- < S2O6^2-

S2O3^2- < S4O6^2- < S2O6^2- < S2O4^2-

JEE Advanced levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 3 of 3rx038

Arrange the sulfur oxoanions in increasing order of the AVERAGE oxidation number of sulfur: thiosulfate $S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -}$ , tetrathionate $S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -}$ , dithionite $S X_{2} O X_{4} X^{2 -}$ , dithionate $S X_{2} O X_{6} X^{2 -}$ .

A $S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{4} X^{2 -} < S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{6} X^{2 -}$
B $S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{4} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{6} X^{2 -}$
C $S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -} < S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{4} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{6} X^{2 -}$
D $S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -} < S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{6} X^{2 -} < S X_{2} O X_{4} X^{2 -}$

Averages:

S X_{2} O X_{3} X^{2 -}

2 x - 6 = - 2

gives

+ 2

;

S X_{4} O X_{6} X^{2 -}

gives

+ 2.5

;

S X_{2} O X_{4} X^{2 -}

2 x - 8 = - 2

gives

+ 3

;

S X_{2} O X_{6} X^{2 -}

2 x - 12 = - 2

gives

+ 5

. The order is

2 < 2.5 < 3 < 5