An oxoacid of sulphur, Compound A, is formed as an intermediate during the electrolytic oxidation of acidified sulphate solutions at high current density. Complete hydrolysis of Compound A yields hydrogen peroxide. Let x be the number of S=O double bonds, y be the number of S-OH bonds, and z be the number of peroxy ( -O-O- ) linkages in one molecule of Compound A. The sum of x + y + z is

Step-by-step solution

The electrolytic oxidation of acidified sulphate solutions at high current density produces peroxodisulphuric acid (Marshall's acid, H ₂ S ₂ O ₈ ) as an intermediate. The reaction is: 2 HSO ₄^- Electrolysis H ₂ S ₂ O ₈ + 2 e ^- Hydrolysis of H ₂ S ₂ O ₈ yields hydrogen peroxide: H ₂ S ₂ O ₈ + 2 H ₂ O Hydrolysis 2 H ₂ SO ₄ + H ₂ O ₂ The structure of peroxodisulphuric acid ( H ₂ S ₂ O ₈ ) is HO-S(=O) ₂ -O-O-S(=O) ₂ -OH . From the structure: Number of S=O double bonds ( x ) = 4 Number of S-OH bonds ( y ) = 2 Number of