Definition

A type of ion or group that includes sulfur and carries a positive charge, often found in chemical compounds.

Example

In organic chemistry, sulfonium ions are important intermediates in various reactions.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a compound called sulfonium?

I think I might have read about it in a chemistry article.

Yeah, it's interesting how it's related to sulfur compounds.

For sure! I love learning about different chemical ions.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Sulfonium is formed from "sulfon-" (derived from sulfur, from Latin "sulfur", meaning sulfur) and "-ium" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote a cation or a positively charged ion). The word refers to a positively charged ion derived from sulfur compounds.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sulfur' as the base of 'sulfonium', which helps you remember that it relates to a sulfur compound that carries a positive charge.

Visually Confused Words