Sodium Dithionite Structure

Sodium dithionite, also known as sodium hydrosulfite (Na2S2O4), has a molecular formula of Na2S2O4 and a molar mass of 174.107 g/mol. Its structure consists of two sulfite ions (SO3 2-) bonded together by a sulfur-sulfur bond (-S-S-), with two sodium cations (Na+) balancing the charge.

The molecule is tetrahedral in shape with bond angles of approximately 109.5 degrees. Each sulfite ion is trigonal planar with the sulfur at the center and three oxygen atoms surrounding it. The sulfur-sulfur bond length in the molecule is approximately 2.05 Å.

Sodium dithionite is a white to yellowish crystalline powder that is soluble in water and has a strong reducing agent property due to the presence of sulfur in its structure. It is commonly used as a bleaching agent, a reducing agent in chemical reactions, a stabilizer in photographic developing solutions, and a dechlorinating agent for water treatment.

Overall, the structure of sodium dithionite plays a crucial role in its chemical properties and applications.