Pyrosulfate
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In chemistry, disulfate or pyrosulfate is the anion with the molecular formula S2O2− 7. Disulfate is the IUPAC name. It has a dichromate-like structure and can be visualised as two corner-sharing SO4 tetrahedra, with a bridging oxygen atom. In this anion, sulfur has an oxidation state of +6. Disulfate is the conjugate base of the hydrogen disulfate (hydrogen pyrosulfate) ion HS2O− 7, which in turn is the conjugate base of disulfuric acid (pyrosulfuric acid).
Role in sulfation
Industrial production of sulfate ester-based surfactants involves the reaction (sulfation) of fatty alcohols with sulfur trioxide. For example, dodecyl alcohol is sulfated using sulfur trioxide. The reaction proceeds by initial formation of the pyrosulfate:
2 SO3 + ROH → ROSO2−O−SO3H
ROSO2−O−SO3H → ROSO3H + SO3
Several million tons are produced annually.