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For other uses, see Sulphide (disambiguation).
Formula of sulfide
CAS number 18496-25-8 YesY
PubChem 29109
ChemSpider 27079 YesY
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Molecular formula S2−
Molar mass 32.065 g mol-1
Related compounds
Other anions Telluride
Infobox references

Sulfide (systematically named sulfanediide, and sulfide(2−)) is an inorganic anion of sulfur with the chemical formula S2−. It contributes no color to sulfide salts. As it is classified as a strong base, even dilute solutions of salts such as sodium sulfide are corrosive and can attack the skin. Sulfide is the simplest sulfur anion.


The systematic names sulfanediide and sulfide(2−), valid IUPAC names, are determined according to the substitutive and additive nomenclatures, respectively. However, the name sulfide is also used in compositional IUPAC nomenclature which does not take the nature of bonding involved. Examples of such naming are selenium disulfide and titanium sulfide, which contains no sulfide ions whatsoever.

Sulfide is also used non-systematically, to describe compounds which releases hydrogen sulfide upon acidification, or a compound that otherwise incorporates sulfur in some form, such as dimethyl sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is itself an example of a non-systematic name of this nature. However, it is also a trivial name, and the preferred IUPAC name for sulfane.

Chemical properties[edit]

Sulfide does not exist in appreciable concentrations even in highly alkaline water, being undetectable at pH < ~15 (8 M NaOH).[2]


The sulfide anion can assimilate a proton by recombination:

S2− + H+ → SH

Because of this capture of a proton (H+), sulfide has basic character. In aqueous solution, it has a pKb value of less than 0. Its conjugate acid is bisulfide (SH). In aqueous solution, most sulfide ions are neutralized.

S2− + H2O is in a favored equilibrium with SH + OH

Chemical reactions[edit]

Upon treatment with a standard acid, sulfide converts to hydrogen sulfide and a metal salt. Oxidation of sulfide gives sulfur or sulfate. Metal sulfides are mildly corroded by nonmetals including iodine, bromine, and chlorine forming sulfur and metal salts.

8 MgS + 8 I2 → S8 + 8 MgI2

Sulfur can also be prepared from a metal sulfide and an appropriate oxidizer:

8 Na2S + 16 NO
+ 32 H+ → S8 + 16  NO2 + 16 H2O

Metal derivatives[edit]

Aqueous solutions of transition metals cations react with sulfide sources (H2S, NaHS, Na2S) to precipitate solid sulfides. Such inorganic sulfides typically have very low solubility in water, and many are related to minerals with the same composition (see below). One famous example is the bright yellow species CdS or "cadmium yellow". The black tarnish formed on sterling silver is Ag2S. Such species are sometimes referred to as salts. In fact, the bonding in transition metal sulfides is highly covalent, which gives rise to their semiconductor properties, which in turn is related to the deep colors. Several have practical applications as pigments, in solar cells, and as catalysts. Aspergillus niger plays a role in the solubilization of heavy metal sulfides. [3]


Main article: sulfide mineral

Many important metal ores are sulfides.[4] Significant examples include: argentite (silver sulfide), cinnabar (mercury), galena (lead sulfide), molybdenite (molybdenum sulfide), pentlandite (nickel sulfide]), realgar (arsenic sulfide), and stibnite (antimony), sphalerite (zinc sulfide), and pyrite (iron disulfide), and chalcopyrite (iron-copper sulfide).

Corrosion induced by sulfide[edit]

Dissolved free sulfides (H2S, HS and S2−) are very aggressive species for the corrosion of many metals such as steel, stainless steel, and copper. Sulfides present in aqueous solution are responsible for stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of steel, and is also known as sulfide stress cracking. Corrosion is a major concern in many industrial installations processing sulfides: sulfide ore mills, deep oil wells, pipeline transporting soured oil, Kraft paper factories. Microbially-induced corrosion (MIC) or biogenic sulfide corrosion are also caused by sulfate reducing bacteria producing sulfide.

Oxidation of sulfide can also form thiosulfate (S2O32−) an intermediate species responsible for severe problems of pitting corrosion of steel and stainless steel while the medium is also acidified by the production of sulfuric acid when oxidation is more advanced.

Organic chemistry[edit]

In organic chemistry, "sulfide" usually refers to the linkage C-S-C, although the term thioether is less ambiguous. For example, the thioether dimethyl sulfide is CH3-S-CH3. Polyphenylene sulfide (see below) has the empirical formula C6H4S. Occasionally, the term sulfide refers to molecules containing the -SH functional group. For example, methyl sulfide can mean CH3-SH. The preferred descriptor for such SH-containing compounds is thiol or mercaptan, i.e. methanethiol, or methyl mercaptan.


Confusion arises from the different meanings of the term "disulfide". Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) consists of separated sulfide centers, in association with molybdenum in the formal 4+ oxidation state (Mo4+). Iron disulfide (pyrite, FeS2) on the other hand consists of S22−, or S–S dianion, in association with divalent iron in the formal 2+ oxidation state (ferrous ion: Fe2+). Dimethyldisulfide has the chemical binding CH3-S–S-CH3, whereas carbon disulfide has no S–S bond, being S=C=S (linear molecule analog to CO2). Most often in sulfur chemistry and in biochemistry, the disulfide term is commonly ascribed to the sulfur analogue of the peroxide −O–O− bond. The disulfide bond (−S–S−) plays a major role in the conformation of proteins and in the catalytic activity of enzymes.


Formula Melting point (°C) Boiling point (°C) CAS number
H2S Hydrogen sulfide is a very toxic and corrosive gas characterised by a typical odour of "rotten egg". -85,7 -60,20 7783-06-4
CdS Cadmium sulfide can be used in photocells. 1750 1306-23-6
Calcium polysulfide ("lime sulfur") is a traditional fungicide in gardening.
CS2 Carbon disulfide is sometimes used as a solvent in industrial chemistry. -111.6 46 75-15-0
PbS Lead sulfide is used in infra-red sensors. 1114 1314-87-0
MoS2 Molybdenum disulfide, the mineral molybdenite, is used as a catalyst to remove sulfur from fossil fuels; also as lubricant for high-temperature and high-pressure applications. 1317-33-5
Cl-CH2CH2-S-CH2CH2-Cl Sulfur mustard (mustard gas) is an organosulfide (thioether) that has been used as a chemical weapon in the First World War, the chloride on the molecule acts as a leaving group when in the presence of water and forms a thioether-alcohol and HCl. 13 - 14 217 505-60-2
Ag2S Silver sulfide is formed on silver electrical contacts operating in an atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulfide. 21548-73-2
Na2S Sodium sulfide is an important industrial chemical, used in manufacture of kraft paper, dyes, leather tanning, crude petroleum processing, treatment of heavy metal pollution, and others. 920 1180 1313-82-2
ZnS Zinc sulfide is used for lenses and other optical devices in the infrared part of the spectrum. Zinc sulfide doped with silver is used in alpha detectors while zinc sulfide with traces of copper has applications in photoluminescent strips for emergency lighting and luminous watch dials. 1185 1314-98-3
MeS Several metal sulfides are used as pigments in art, although their use has declined somewhat due to their toxicity. Sulfide pigments include cadmium, mercury, and arsenic.
C6H4S Polyphenylene sulfide is a polymer commonly called "Sulfar". Its repeating units are bonded together by sulfide (thioether) linkages. 26125-40-6
SeS2 Selenium sulfide is an antifungal used in anti-dandruff preparations, such as Selsun Blue. The presence of the highly toxic selenium in healthcare and cosmetics products represents a general health and environmental concern. <100 7488-56-4
FeS2 The crystal lattice of pyrite is made of iron disulfide, in which iron is divalent and present as ferrous ion (Fe2+). 600 1317-66-4


Sulfide compounds can be prepared in several different ways:[5]

1. Direct combination of elements:

Example: Fe(s) + S(s) --> FeS(s)

2. Reduction of a sulfate:

Example: MgSO4(s) + 4C(s) --> MgS(s) + 4CO(g)

3. Precipitation of an insoluble sulfide:

Example: M2+ + H2S(g) --> MS(s) + 2H+(aq)


Many metal sulfides are so insoluble in water that they are probably not very toxic. Some metal sulfides, when exposed to a strong mineral acid, including gastric acids, will release toxic hydrogen sulfide.

Organic sulfides are highly flammable. When a sulfide burns it produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas.

Hydrogen sulfide, some of its salts, and almost all organic sulfides have a strong and putrid stench; rotting biomass releases these.

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b "sulfide(2-) (CHEBI:15138)". Chemical Entities of Biological Interest (ChEBI). UK: European Bioinformatics Institute. 
  2. ^ Meyer B, Ward K, Koshlap K, Peter L "Second dissociation constant of hydrogen sulfide" Inorganic Chemistry 1983, volume 22, pp. 2345. doi:10.1021/ic00158a027.
  3. ^ Harbhajan Singh. Mycoremediation: Fungal Bioremediation. p. 509. 
  4. ^ Vaughan, D. J.; Craig, J. R. “Mineral chemistry of metal sulfides" Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 1978. ISBN 0-521-21489-0.
  5. ^ Atkins, Shriver. Inorganic Chemistry, Fifth Edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York; 2010; pp 413.