A Raman Study of the Isomers and Dimer of Hydrogen Sulfite Ion

Raman spectra of aqueous solutions of hydrogen sulfite ion (SHO 3 − ) were collected over temperatures of 275 to 340 K. The change in peak intensities with temperature was used to assign peaks to the hydrogen sulfite isomers. The HOSO 2 − isomer has a peak at 1023 cm −1 and the HSO 3 − isomer has a peak at 1052 cm −1 . The relative strengths of the peaks were determined and used to measure the equilibrium quotients for hydrogen sulfite ion. Q 1 = [HOSO 2 − ]/[HSO 3 − ] Q 2 = [S 2 O 5 2- ]/[SHO 3 − ] 2 No evidence was found for a hydrogen sulfite dimer other than disulfite ion, S 2 O 5 2- .