ANION EXCHANGE WITH LIQUID AMMONIA: SEPARATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS OF SULFUR-AMMONIA SOLUTIONS

Abstract By anion exchange HPLC with NH,NO, in liquid ammonia (0.0035 M) as mobile phase we succeeded to separate the main components of a solution of sulfur in liquid ammonia. By their absorption spectra we could identify the known anions S4N− and S4N− (sulfur in oxidized form) as well as S3 − which is in equilibrium with S6= (sulfur in reduced form). In addition we find an anionic compound which after separation decays to form a normal sulfur ammonia solution. It therefore must contain sulfur in zero oxidation state. We assign it tentatively the formula SxNH2 −-primarily formed by attack of ammonia on neutral sulfur. Key Words: Anion exchangeHPLCliquid ammonia;sulfur;sulfur ammonia solution.