Peroxydisulfate

 ( Sulfur Oxyanions ) 

The peroxydisulfate ion, , is an oxyanion, the anion of peroxydisulfuric acid. It is commonly referred to as persulfate, but this term also refers to the peroxomonosulfate ion, . It is also called peroxodisulfate. Approximately 500,000 tons of salts containing this anion are produced annually. Important salts include sodium persulfate (Na₂S₂O₈), potassium persulfate (K₂S₂O₈), and ammonium persulfate ((NH₄)₂S₂O₈). These salts are colourless, water-soluble solids that are strong oxidants.

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Applications Salts of peroxydisulfate are mainly used to initiate the polymerization of various alkenes, including styrene, acrylonitrile, and fluoroalkenes. Polymerization is initiated by the homolysis of the peroxydisulfate:

O₃SO–OSO₃²⁻ 2 SO₄^•−

Moreover, sodium peroxydisulfate can be used for soil and groundwater remediation, water and wastewater treatment, and etching of copper on circuit boards.

It has also been used to produce hair lighteners and bleaches, medical drugs, cellophane, rubber, soaps, detergents, adhesive papers, dyes for textiles, and in photography.

In addition to its major commercial applications, peroxydisulfate participates in reactions of interest in the laboratory:

• Elbs persulfate oxidation
• Oxidation of Ag⁺ to Ag²⁺, such as the preparation of tetrakis(pyridine)silver(II) peroxydisulfate

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Structure Peroxydisulfate is a centrosymmetric anion. The O-O distance is 1.48 Å. The sulfur centers are tetrahedral.

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