A thermal analytical study of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NH4, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Zn dithionates is reported. The decomposition of the dithionate ion is endothermic in the case of the Na, K, Rb, Cs and NH4salts, but exothermic with Li, Mg, Sr, Ba and Zn. Kinetic parameters have been derived from the TG curves by means of the Coats-Redfern method. The validity of a linear kinetic compensation law is reported for the loss of crystal water and separately for the decomposition of the dithionate ion.