Sodium Thiosulfate Formula – Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Sodium is a highly reactive metal with the symbol Na. Its name comes from Latin, natrium. Sodium is a very soft silvery-white metal appearance with atomic number 11. It is a chemical element of the alkali metal group, Group 1 of the periodic table, with an atomic mass of 22.989u and a mass number of 23amu. Oxygen is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table. It is a highly reactive non-metal. It is a colorless, odorless gas that is essential to live organisms. The atomic weight of oxygen is 15.999 u. Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and with the atomic number 8. Sulfate, also Sulphate, is an ion, a salt of sulfuric acid with a molar mass of 96.06 g/mol. Sulfate is soluble in water, divalent anion produced by the oxidation of elemental sulfur and organic sulfur. The empirical formula of sulfate is SO₄^2-.

Sodium Thiosulfate

Sodium thiosulfate or sodium hyposulfite is a crystalline compound with five molecules of water in it. It is important because of its highly soluble nature, colorless and odorless. It is an inorganic salt, also referred to as disodium thiosulphate. The chemical formula of sodium thiosulfate is Na₂S₂O_3, with a molar mass of 158.11 g/mol. It has many applications and various medical properties.

Sodium Thiosulfate Formula

Na₂S₂O₃ is the chemical formula of sodium thiosulfate. Na stands for sodium, S stands for sulfur, and the O stands for oxygen. It consists of two cations of a (Na⁺) sodium atom and an anion of (S₂O₃^–) thiosulfate. 

Structure of Sodium Thiosulfate

The central sulfur atom is bonded to three oxygen atoms and another sulfur atom in the structure. The solid form also exists in a monoclinic crystal structure.

Preparation of Sodium Thiosulfate

Generally, Sodium thiosulfate is generally prepared by using sulfur heating along with an aqueous sodium sulfite solution.

6NaOH + 4S → Na₂S₂O₃ + 2Na₂S + 3H₂O

Physical properties of Sodium Thiosulfate

• It has the appearance of a white crystalline solid.
• The melting point of sodium thiosulfate is 48.3°C.
• It has a density of 1.67 g/cm³.
• It has a high solubility in water.
• It is colorless and odorless in nature.

Chemical properties of Sodium Thiosulfate

Under normal conditions, sodium thiosulfate is stable, but on heating, it decomposes to give sodium sulfate and sodium polysulfide,

4Na₂S₂O₃ → 3Na₂SO₄ + Na₂S₅

Clock reaction, when treated with dilute acids, decomposes to give sulfur and sulfur dioxide,

Na₂S₂O₃ + 2 HCl → 2 NaCl + S + SO₂ + H₂O

As it is a neutral salt, it dissociates in water readily and produces sodium and thiosulfate ions,

Na₂S₂O₃ + H₂O → Na+ + S₂O₃^–

Uses of Sodium Thiosulfate

• It is used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning.
• It is used as a cleansing agent.
• It is used in photographic film processing.
• It is also used in the extraction of gold.
• It is used in several pharmaceutical preparations.
• Sodium thiosulfate also used in leather tanning.

Safety issues

When sodium thiosulfate decomposes, it produces fumes of toxic sulfur oxide, which cause irritation to the eyes, mucous membrane, and to skin.

Sample Questions

Question 1: Why is sodium thiosulfate used in pools?

Answer:

Sodium thiosulfate for pools eliminates free chlorine as well as joined chlorine from pools. It’s a simple, safe, and cheap method for adjusting the chemical levels in your pool. Sodium thiosulfate (Na₂S₂O₃) can be utilized to kill or eliminate the remaining chlorine. It basically responds and shapes sodium hydrogen sulfate or sodium bisulfate which is a dormant salt.

Question 2: For what reason is sodium thiosulfate utilized in iodometric titration?

Answer: 

It responds stoichiometrically with aqueous solutions of iodine. Thus, it is generally utilized in laboratories, research centers for iodine-based titrations.
In an iodometric titration, a starch arrangement is utilized as an indicator since it can assimilate the I₂ that is delivered. This absorption will make the solution change its tone from dark blue to light yellow when titrated with normalized thiosulfate solution. This shows the endpoint of the titration.

Question 3: Is sodium thiosulfate really great for skin, does salicylic acid cure tinea versicolor?

Answer: 

Salicylic corrosive is utilized to treat a contagious infection (fungal) of the skin, tinea versicolor. This medication might be utilized for different purposes. Salicylic acid assists your skin with retaining sodium thiosulfate. Salicylic acid and sodium thiosulfate effective is a mixed medication used to treat a skin problem (infection) called tinea versicolor.

Question 4: Does sodium thiosulfate treat calciphylaxis?

Answer:

Sodium thiosulfate is known as a cure in cyanide inebriation and has as of late been utilized for treating calciphylaxis.
It is remembered to have both cation-chelating and antioxidant properties. The reasoning for the utilization of sodium thiosulfate in calciphylaxis is the chelation of calcium to deliver calcium thiosulfate, which might be more solvent than other calcium salts and in this manner, all the more promptly cleared from the body.

Question 5: What is sodium thiosulfate utilized for?

Answer: 

Sodium thiosulfate is a modern compound that additionally has a long clinical history. It was initially utilized as an intravenous drug for metal harming. It has since been supported for the therapy of specific intriguing ailments. These incorporate cyanide poisoning, calciphylaxis, and cisplatin poisonousness. Thiosulphate is found in onions, shallots, chives, and onion powder. It’s particularly strong in garlic.

Question 6: Could sodium thiosulfate hurt you?

Answer:

Hypertension or kidney infection, Liver sickness, or Toxanemia of pregnancy. Sodium thiosulfate may make the body hold water, which might aggravate these circumstances. Sodium thiosulfate decomposes it produces fumes of toxic sulfur oxide, which cause irritation to eyes, mucous membrane and to skin. Symptoms of sodium thiosulfate include: Low circulatory strain (hypotension), Nausea/spewing, Disorientation.

Question 7: What are the medical uses of sodium thiosulfate?

Answer: 

Sodium thiosulfate (STS) has been endorsed to treat a few rare, uncommon medical conditions, including cyanide poisoning, calciphylaxis, and cisplatin toxicity. It is an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent. Therefore, it has potential for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.