Peroxysulfates

Peroxysulfates are a group of chemical compounds that contain the peroxydisulfate anion, S2O8^2-. This anion is characterized by a peroxide bond (oxygen-oxygen single bond) linking two sulfate groups. The most common peroxysulfate is ammonium peroxydisulfate, (NH4)2S2O8, also known as ammonium persulfate. Potassium peroxydisulfate, K2S2O8, and sodium peroxydisulfate, Na2S2O8, are also frequently encountered.

Peroxysulfates are powerful oxidizing agents and are known for their high solubility in water. They are typically produced industrially by the electrolysis of sulfate or bisulfate solutions. The electrolysis process involves the oxidation of sulfate ions at the anode to form the peroxydisulfate ion.

Due to their strong oxidizing properties, peroxysulfates have a variety of industrial applications. They are widely used as initiators in free-radical polymerization, particularly for the production of polymers like polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene. In the electronics industry, they serve as etchants for printed circuit boards. They also find use as bleaching agents in textiles and paper, as disinfectants, and in hair bleaching formulations. In some applications, they are employed as oxidizing agents in chemical synthesis. When peroxysulfates decompose, they typically yield sulfate ions and oxygen. Their reactivity and oxidizing strength make them useful but also necessitate careful handling and storage to avoid unintended reactions.