Which of the following is the sulfite ion?

Study for the IMAT Chemistry Exam. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions; hints and explanations included for each question. Prepare effectively for your exam.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the sulfite ion?

Explanation:
The sulfite ion is the species with three oxygens bonded to sulfur and an overall 2− charge, i.e. SO3^2−. This distinguishes it from the others: sulfate has four oxygens (SO4^2−), nitrate has nitrogen as the central atom (NO3−), and phosphate has phosphorus as the central atom (PO4^3−). The three-oxygen, 2− charge combination identifies sulfite, and the name itself in the -ite form signals this family (sulfite) vs the -ate form (sulfate) with an extra oxygen.

The sulfite ion is the species with three oxygens bonded to sulfur and an overall 2− charge, i.e. SO3^2−. This distinguishes it from the others: sulfate has four oxygens (SO4^2−), nitrate has nitrogen as the central atom (NO3−), and phosphate has phosphorus as the central atom (PO4^3−). The three-oxygen, 2− charge combination identifies sulfite, and the name itself in the -ite form signals this family (sulfite) vs the -ate form (sulfate) with an extra oxygen.

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