Reaction Overview
When sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) reacts with chlorine gas (Cl2) in an aqueous solution, a series of redox reactions occur. Sodium thiosulfate acts as a reducing agent, while chlorine, being a strong oxidizing agent, gets reduced.
Key Products Formed
- The main products of this reaction are sodium tetrathionate (Na2S4O6) and sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4).
- The formation of NaHSO4 occurs due to the oxidation of thiosulfate ions.
Equation of Reaction
The simplified reaction can be represented as follows:
Na2S2O3 + Cl2 → Na2S4O6 + NaHSO4
In this reaction:
- Sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3) is oxidized to sodium tetrathionate (Na2S4O6).
- Chlorine gas (Cl2) is reduced to chloride ions (Cl-), which is not included in the answer options.
Why NaHSO4?
- The formation of sodium bisulfate (NaHSO4) is a result of the acidic environment created by the presence of chlorine, which reacts with water.
- NaHSO4 is a product of the reaction due to the presence of sulfur in the thiosulfate, which gets oxidized.
Conclusion
Thus, in the context of the available answer options, the correct product formed in significant quantity from the reaction of aqueous Na2S2O3 with Cl2 is:
- b) NaHSO4
This emphasizes that option 'B' is indeed the correct answer for the given question, considering the redox behavior and the nature of products formed in this reaction.