Used in the preparation of tetrathionate hydrolase assay from Acidithiobacillus caldus, it acts as an energy source.
Potassium tetrathionate is prepared by a similar reaction—the reaction of S2Cl2 with sulphurous acid, followed by KOH neutralization, as shown by the equations.
2H2S03 + S2C12->H2S406+2HCl
H2S406+2KOH -> K2S406 + 2H2O or by the reaction of iodine with K2S2O3.
2K2S203 + I2 -> K2S406+2KI.
The reaction is carried out in an ethanol-water mixture, a medium in which the potassium tetrathionate is insoluble; the K2S406 precipitates as colorless shiny platelets.
ChEBI: A potassium salt composed of potassium and tetrathionate ions in a 2:1 ratio.
The crystal structure of potassium tetrathionate is monoclinic with a=22.081o, b=7.991o, c=10.108o