14 



Table 2. The oxidation states of sulfur in soils, 



Name Oxidation state Example 



2- 



Sulfate (most oxidized) +6 H SO, , S0 ? , SO 



Sulfite +4 H 9 SO SO "~, S0 9 



Polythionates ., 9 _ „_ 



(tetra-, tri-, penta-) 



Thiosulfate 



Sulfomonoxide 

 Disulfur monoxide 



Elemental sulfur 

 Disulfide 



Sulfide (most reduced) 



+2 to 



+4 



S 4°6 ■ S 3°6 _ ■ 



+2 





Na 2 S 2 3 , S 2 3 2 - 



+2 





SO 



+1 





s 2 o 









s° 



-1 





2- 



» 



_2 





H S, S 2 " 



5 6 



