The first invention provides a novel
sulfonate. The second invention provides: a
flame retardant with which it is possible to achieve a molded article that has excellent
flame retardancy and excellent appearance; an additive composition which contains the
flame retardant; a resin composition; and a molded article. The novel
sulfonate according to the first invention is represented by general formula (1). (In general formula (1), R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a
hydrogen atom, a
fluorine atom, or a
chlorine atom, and at least two of R1, R2, and R3 each independently represent a
fluorine atom or a
chlorine atom. M represents a
sodium atom, a
potassium atom, or a cesium atom. However, the cases where all of R1, R2, and R3 are
fluorine atoms, the cases where all of R1, R2, and R3 are
chlorine atoms, the cases where two selected from among R1, R2, and R3 are fluorine atoms and the balance is a
hydrogen atom, and M is a
potassium atom, and the cases where two selected from R1, R2, and R3 are fluorine atoms and the balance is a
chlorine atom, and M is a
sodium atom are excluded.) The flame retardant according to the second invention contains a
sulfonate represented by general formula (2). (In general formula (2), Q1, Q2, and Q3 each independently represent a
hydrogen atom or a
halogen atom, and at least one of Q1, Q2, and Q3 represents a
halogen atom. X represents an
alkali metal or an
alkaline earth metal. However, the cases where all of Q1, Q2, and Q3 are fluorine atoms are excluded.)