Formation and Properties
Selenous acid is analogous to sulfurous acid, but it is more readily isolated. Selenous acid is easily formed upon the addition of selenium dioxide to water. As a crystalline solid, the compound can be seen as pyramidal molecules that are interconnected with hydrogen bonds. In solution it is a diprotic acid:
- H2SeO3 H+ + HSeO−
3 (pKa = 2.62) - HSeO−
3 H+ + SeO2−
3 (pKa = 8.32)
It is moderately oxidizing in nature, but kinetically slow. In 1 M H+:
- H2SeO3 + 4 H+ + 4 -
e Se + 3 H2O (Eo= +0.74 V)
In 1 M OH−:
- SeO2−
3 + 4 -
e + 3 H2O Se + 6 OH− (Eo= −0.37 V)
It is used in organic synthesis for the synthesis of 1,2-diketones (e.g. glyoxal).
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