Peroxysulfate
Peroxysulfate
(also called persulfate), any salt of the peroxysulfuric acids. Peroxymonosulfuric acid (H2SO5) forms acid salts, for example, NaHSO5, and neutral salts, for example, Na2SO5. Acid salts are good bleaching agents, while no practical application has as yet been found for neutral salts. Peroxydisulfuric acid (H2S2O8) forms only neutral salts, the most widely used being (NH4)2S2O8 and K2S2O8. The latter salt is used to prepare solutions of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); it is also an oxidizing agent, a polymerization initiator, and a bleach for fats and soaps.