thiosulfate

(noun)

Any salt or ester of thiosulfuric acid.

Related Terms

Examples of thiosulfate in the following topics:

  • Microbial Ore Leaching

    • Ores, like pyrite (FeS2), are first oxidized by ferric iron (Fe3+) to thiosulfate (S2O32-) in the absence of bacteria.
    • In the first step, disulfide is spontaneously oxidized to thiosulfate by ferric iron (Fe3+), which in turn is reduced to give ferrous iron (Fe2+):

  • Oxidation of Reduced Sulfur Compounds

    • Sulfur oxidation involves the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds, inorganic sulfur, and thiosulfate to form sulfuric acid.
    • Sulfur oxidation involves the oxidation of reduced sulfur compounds such as sulfide (H2S), inorganic sulfur (S0), and thiosulfate (S2O2−3) to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
    • The two step process occurs because sulfide is a better electron donor than inorganic sulfur or thiosulfate; this allows a greater number of protons to be translocated across the membrane.

  • The Energetics of Chemolithotrophy

    • ., iron, hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur, or thiosulfate, for some or all of their energy needs.

  • The 3-Hydroxypropionate Cycle

    • The green non sulfur bacteria uses reduced sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide or thiosulfate as an electron donor for metabolism.

  • Sulfate and Sulfur Reduction

    • ., Desulfovibrio sulfodismutans, Desulfocapsa thiozymogenes, and Desulfocapsa sulfoexigens) are capable of sulfur disproportionation (splitting one compound into two different compounds, in this case an electron donor and an electron acceptor) using elemental sulfur (S0), sulfite (SO32−), and thiosulfate (S2O32−) to produce both hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfate (SO42−).
    • By contrast, sulfate-reducing bacteria reduce sulfate in large amounts to obtain energy and expel the resulting sulfide as waste; this is known as "dissimilatory sulfate reduction. " Most sulfate-reducing bacteria can also reduce other oxidized inorganic sulfur compounds, such as sulfite, thiosulfate, or elemental sulfur (which is reduced to sulfide as hydrogen sulfide).

  • Silver

    • Silver halides are soluble in solutions of sodium thiosulfate (Na2S2O3), which is used as a photographic fixer.
    • These compounds are used in photography to bleach silver images, converting them to silver halides that can either be fixed with thiosulfate or redeveloped to intensify the original image.

  • Electron Donors and Acceptors in Anaerobic Respiration

    • Others, such as certain Desulfovibrio species, are capable of sulfur disproportionation (splitting one compound into an electron donor and an electron acceptor) using elemental sulfur (S0), sulfite (SO3−2), and thiosulfate (S2O32-) to produce both hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfate (SO2−).

  • The Reverse TCA Cycle

    • The reverse TCA cycle requires electron donors and often times, bacteria will use hydrogen, sulfide or thiosulfate for this purpose.

  • Proton Reduction

    • Sulfur oxidation is a two step process that occurs because energetically sulfide is a better electron donor than inorganic sulfur or thiosulfate, allowing for a greater number of protons to be translocated across the membrane.

  • Chloroflexus and Relatives

    • While oxygenic phototrophs use water as an electron donor for phototrophy, Chloroflexus uses reduced sulfur compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, thiosulfate, or elemental sulfur.