Peroxymonosulfuric acid

Peroxymonosulfuric acid, or Caro’s acid, is an inorganic peroxy acid with formula H₂SO₅. Its reactive peroxide bond makes it a strong oxidizing agent.

Connect

Peroxide: A compound or functional group containing an oxygen–oxygen single bond. This bond is the reactive feature within peroxymonosulfuric acid.
Advanced oxidation process: A water-treatment method that generates highly reactive species to degrade contaminants. Peroxymonosulfuric acid can supply oxidizing power in contaminant-treatment systems.
Peroxy acid: An acid containing an oxygen–oxygen bond within one of its oxygen-bearing groups. Peroxymonosulfuric acid belongs to this family of oxygen-rich acids.
Peroxydisulfuric acid: An inorganic peroxy acid with formula H₂S₂O₈, also called Marshall’s acid. It is a close structural relative with two sulfur atoms instead of one.
Oxidation–reduction reaction: A chemical reaction in which electrons transfer between species, changing their oxidation states. Caro’s acid oxidizes other substances by accepting electrons.
Wastewater treatment: Processes that remove contaminants from used water before reuse or environmental release. Caro’s acid can oxidize persistent pollutants in wastewater.
Sulfuric acid: A strong diprotic mineral acid with formula H₂SO₄. Replacing one sulfuric-acid oxygen with a peroxide group gives Caro’s acid.
Hydrogen peroxide: A simple peroxide compound with formula H₂O₂, widely used as an oxidizer and disinfectant. Both compounds contain peroxide bonds, but only Caro’s acid includes a sulfur oxyacid group.
Sulfate: A sulfur-containing oxyanion with formula SO₄²⁻ and a central sulfur atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. The sulfate framework provides the acid’s sulfur–oxygen structure.
Chemical synthesis: The preparation of chemical compounds through controlled chemical reactions. Its strong oxidizing action makes it useful in selected synthetic transformations.