Question
Peroxodisulphate salts (e.g., Na2S2O8) are strong oxidising agents used as bleaching agents for fats, oils and fabrics. Can oxygen gas oxidise sulphate ion to peroxodisulphate ion (S2O2−8) in acidic solution, with the O2(g) being reduced to water? Given,
O2(g)+4H+(aq)+4e→2H2O Eo=1.23V
S2O2−8(aq)+2e→2SO2−4(aq) Eo=2.01V