Introduction of Hydrogen Sulfate
Hydrogen sulfate is also known as Bisulfate is an anion and the formula is HSO4 and is formed with the chemical radical sulfate (HSO4).
When Hydrogen Sulfate gets exposed to water, it reacts and forms Sulphuric Acid, the formula of which is H2SO4. Hydrogen Sulfate is acidic in nature and is used as a weaker alternative to Sulfuric acid. Hydrogen sulfate reacts with Sodium to form Sodium Bisulfate (NaHSO4) which is a pure substance. The Hydrogen Sulfate formula shows that one atom of hydrogen and one atom of sulfur along with four atoms of oxygen.
Chemical Reaction of Hydrogen Sulfate
Hydrogen sulfate is highly reactive with distilled water, and forms sulfate and hydronium ions. The chemical equation is given by:
HSO4– + H2O → H3O+ + SO42-
Also reacts with nitrate ions, in order to form sulfate ions and nitrous acid. The chemical equality:
HSO4– + NO2- → SO42- + HNO2
Taking water as a base, Hydrogen Sulfate reacts to form hydronium ions. This happens according to the Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Reactions, where an acid-based reaction will only occur when one proton is transferred from one molecule to another.
HSO4−(aq)+H2O(l) ⇌ H3O + (aq) +SO2− 4(aq).
As per the Brønsted-Lowry, an acid-base reaction is known to occur when there is a transfer of one proton from one ion or from one molecule to another. In that way, the water acts as a base since it is shown to react with HSO4−, and this is a better proton donor. This happens because of the amphoteric nature of water, and it acts both as a base and as an acid.
Uses of Hydrogen Sulfate
Hydrogen Sulfate is used in water treatment plants to remove residual chlorine. Hydrogen sulfate is a major alternative to liquid sulfur dioxide. The production of nitre cake is done with sodium salts of hydrogen sulfate. The resins formed from hydrogen sulfate are used to soothe the skin.
Hydrogen sulfate also commonly known as bisulfate is an anion. The hydrogen sulphate formula is given by HSO4-. Hydrogen sulfate is formed with the chemical radical sulfate (HSO4). When HSO4 are exposed to water, they react to form Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4). With the Sulfate radial, hydrogen sulfates are generally acidic in nature. In fact, they are used as a weaker alternative to Sulfuric acid. Hydrogen sulfate reacts with Sodium to form Sodium Bisulfate (NaHSO4) which is actually a pure substance. It creates a tetrahedral arrangement with the Sulfur atom at the center and four Oxygen atoms surrounding it. It forms a structure similar to that of Methane.
Structure of Hydrogen Sulfate
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Physical Properties of Hydrogen Sulfate
Chemical Properties of Hydrogen Sulfate
Some of the chemical properties of Hydrogen Sulfate are given below:
Hydrogen sulfate is highly reactive with distilled water, forming sulfate and hydronium ions. Its chemical equation is given by:
HSO4– + H2O → H3O+ + SO42-
It can also react with nitrate ions, in order to form sulfate ions and nitrous acid. The chemical equality is down below:
HSO4– + NO2– → SO42- + HNO2
Hydrogen sulfate can also react with water (as a base) and form hydronium ions. This happens as per the Brønsted-Lowry Acid-Base Reactions.
HSO4−(aq)+H2O(l) ⇌ H3O+(aq)+SO2-4(aq)
As per the Brønsted-Lowry, an acid-base reaction actually occurs when there is a transfer of one proton from one ion or molecule to another. In the above case, water acts as a base since it reacts with HSO4−, which is a better proton donor. This happens due to the amphoteric nature of water. It can act both as a base and acid.
Hydrogen Sulfate Uses
Some of the major use cases of Hydrogen sulfate are given below:
It is mainly used in the water treatment plants in order to remove any residual chlorine.
Hydrogen sulfate is one of the major alternatives to liquid sulfur dioxide
The production of niter cake is done with the help of sodium salts of hydrogen sulfate
The resins formed from hydrogen sulfate are heavily used to soothe the skin
What is Sulfate?
Sulfate with its chemical formula, SO42- is actually a sulfur oxoanion. By deprotonation of both the OH group in Sulfuric acid, one can actually obtain the sulfate radical.
What is Strong and Weak Acid?
Based on the pH level of the compound, one can actually determine whether it is a strong acid or a weak one. On the scale of 0 -14, the pH level decreases, the acidic nature increases. In fact, in some strong acids like HCL, the pH can even go below 0. Strong acids get completely dissociated in water. However, weak acids only get partially dissociated in water.
What are the Differences Between Hydrogen Sulfate and Hydrogen Sulfide?
Hydrogen sulfide can be easily identifiable. It has a distinct odor that resembles the smell of rotten eggs. It is produced after the decomposition of animal and plant tissue. High concentrations of it can be quite toxic and is very corrosive to metal objects. It even has the potential to corrode stainless steel. Hydrogen sulfate is also another form of sulfur. However, unlike hydrogen sulfide, it does not produce gas and does not contain odor. It occurs naturally in minerals like rocks, soils and sediments. Sulfate can be harmful for our health too. High levels of sulfate consumption can act as a laxative and that can cause dehydration in human beings.
Solved Questions
Example 1
How to find the oxidation number of S in hydrogen sulfate?
From the formula of hydrogen sulphate, we know that it is HSO4-
According to the general rule of oxidation number,
All the oxidation number must add up to the charge of the ion
The oxidation number of H is 1
The oxidation number of O is -2
So, According to the question,
1 + S + (-2) * 4 = -1
S = 6, So the oxidation number of Sulfur is 6 in hydrogen sulfate.
Example 2
We all know that hydrogen sulfate or HSO4 acts as either a base or acid in water. So, in which of the following equations, hydrogen sulfate acts as an acid, and why?
1) HSO4- + H2O = H2SO4 + OH-
2) HSO4- + OH- = H2SO4 + O2-
3) HSO4- + H2O = SO42-N + H3O -
4) HSO4- + H3O - = SO3 + 2H2O
The answer is option 3. Here HSO4- is actually acting as an acid because of the H+ ion that it gives away. As for the other equations, the HSO4 name is acting as a base, either giving away OH- or taking H+ ion.
FAQs on Hydrogen Sulfate
1. Why is the HSO4 Formula Often Called Hydrogen Sulfate Instead of Hydrogen Persulfate?
Hydrogen sulfate is one of the oxyanions, which means that it incorporates a single negative change along with an oxygen atom. One of the properties of hydrogen sulphate is that its central sulfur atom is actually joined with three oxygen atoms along with one hydroxyl group. The term sulfate is used instead of persulfate, because instead of a peroxide unit linked with the sulfur there is a hydroxyl group.
2. What are the Differences Between Hydrogen Sulfate and Sulfuric Acid?
We all know that the hydrogen sulphate formula is given by HSO4-, whereas dihydrogen sulfate also known as sulfuric acid has a formula, H2SO4. This let alone states the fact that hydrogen sulfate and sulfuric acid are two different chemicals. Neither less to say, both of them are acids. Yet, hydrogen sulfate is often used as a weaker alternative to sulfuric acid. The acidic nature of hydrogen sulfate is formed due to the electronegative oxygen that isolates the electron density.
3. Mention some differences between Hydrogen Sulfate and Hydrogen Sulfide.
Hydrogen sulfide can be easily identifiable and It has a unique and distinct odour that resembles the smell of rotten eggs. Hydrogen Sulfide is produced after the decomposition of animal and plant tissues. It is corrosive to metal objects and also has the potential to corrode stainless steel.
Hydrogen sulfate is another form of sulfur. Unlike hydrogen sulfide, it does not produce gas nor does it have any odour. Known to occur naturally in minerals like rocks, soils and sediments. Sulfate is harmful to our health, and high levels of sulfate consumption act as a laxative that causes dehydration.
4. Describe Strong acid and Weak acid.
One can determine whether an acid is strong or weak, based on the pH level of the compound. As the pH level decreases on the scale of 0-14, the acidic nature increases. In certain strong acids like HCL, the pH can go below 0. While the strong acids are known to get completely dissociated in water, the weaker acids get only partially dissociated in water. The weak acids are not capable of removing the releasable hydrogen atoms.
5. What are the physical properties of Hydrogen Sulfate?
Physical Properties of Hydrogen Sulfate can be described as :
Hydrogen Sulfate is a white coloured chemical, the chemical formula of which is HSO4. The required Molar Mass of hydrogen sulfate is 97.064g/mol, with a density of 1826.7 kg/m3. The Melting Point is 59o C, and it has a pH value of 1. Hydrogen Sulfate is known to be reactive with water, Nitric Acid, Ethanol and with Acetone.
6. Why is the HSO4 Formula known as Hydrogen Sulfate and not Hydrogen Persulfate?
Hydrogen Sulfate is known to incorporate a single negative change along with an oxygen atom which makes it an Oxyanion. A property of Hydrogen Sulfate is that the central sulfur atom is actually joined with three oxygen atoms along with one hydroxyl group. The term Sulfate is used instead of Persulfate for the single reason that instead of a peroxide unit linked with the sulfur, there is a hydroxyl group that is linked.
7. Where can I get study material on chemistry topics like Hydrogen Sulfate?
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