Peroxysulfate

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Peroxysulfate

 

(also called persulfate), any salt of the peroxysulfuric acids. Peroxymonosulfuric acid (H₂SO₅) forms acid salts, for example, NaHSO₅, and neutral salts, for example, Na₂SO₅. Acid salts are good bleaching agents, while no practical application has as yet been found for neutral salts. Peroxydisulfuric acid (H₂S₂O₈) forms only neutral salts, the most widely used being (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ and K₂S₂O₈. The latter salt is used to prepare solutions of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂); it is also an oxidizing agent, a polymerization initiator, and a bleach for fats and soaps.

The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.