Question

Which of the following compounds have the same ratio of sulphur to oxygen atoms?

• A. $H_{2}S{O}_4$
• B. $H_2{S}_2{O}_8$
• C. $H_{2}S{O}_5$
• D. $H_{2}S{O}_3$

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B)

$H_2{S}_2{O}_8$

A chemical formula represents the simple whole number ratio of elements present in a compound. The ratio of sulphur (S) to oxygen (O) atoms for the given compounds are listed in the table below.
$$\begin{array}{cc}\text{Compound}& \text{S:O}\\ {\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_3& \text{1:3}\\ {\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4& \text{1:4}\\ {\text{H}}_2{\text{S}}_2{\text{O}}_8& \text{1:4}\\ {\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_5& \text{1:5}\end{array}$$
From the table, the ratio of number sulphur atoms to that of oxygen atoms is same for ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$ and ${\text{H}}_2{\text{S}}_2{\text{O}}_8$.