Chemistry / Unit 12 Chem 2338 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Sulfur's Allotropy and Variable Oxidation States
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The idea
Sulfur exists in several allotropes, most stably as S8 rings, and unlike lighter neighbor oxygen, commonly shows multiple positive oxidation states.
In practice
Sulfur forms SO2 (4+) and SO3 (6+), while oxygen almost never carries a positive oxidation state.
Where people slip
Same group does not mean same behavior — sulfur's larger size lets it exceed the oxidation-state range its lighter neighbor oxygen shows.
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