Sodium sulfite

Sodium sulfite (sodium sulphite) is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula Na2SO3. A pale yellow, water-soluble solid, it is used commercially as an antioxidant and preservative. A heptahydrate is also known but it is less useful because of its greater susceptibility toward oxidation by air.[1]

Sodium sulphite
anhydrous
hydrate
Names
IUPAC name
Sodium sulfite
Other names
Hypo clear (photography)
E221
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.028.929
EC Number
  • 231-821-4
E number E221 (preservatives)
RTECS number
  • WE2150000
UNII
Properties
Na2SO3
Molar mass 126.043 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Odor Odorless
Density 2.633 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
1.561 g/cm3 (heptahydrate)
Melting point 33.4 °C (92.1 °F; 306.5 K) (dehydration of heptahydrate)
500 °C (anhydrous)
Boiling point Decomposes
27.0 g/100mL water (20 °C)
Solubility Soluble in glycerol
Insoluble in ammonia, chlorine
log P −4
Acidity (pKa) ~9 (heptahydrate)
1.565
Structure
Hexagonal (anhydrous)
Monoclinic (heptahydrate)
Hazards
Safety data sheet ICSC 1200
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterHealth code 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformReactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
0
2
0
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions
Sodium selenite
Other cations
Potassium sulfite
Related compounds
Sodium bisulfite
Sodium metabisulfite
Sodium sulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Preparation

Sodium sulfite can be prepared by treating a solution of sodium hydroxide with sulfur dioxide. When conducted in warm water, Na2SO3 initially precipitates as a yellow solid. With more SO2, the solid dissolves to give the disulfite, which crystallizes upon cooling.[1]

SO2 + 2 NaOH → Na2SO3 + H2O

Sodium sulfite is made industrially by treating sulfur dioxide with a solution of sodium carbonate.[2] The overall reaction is:

SO2 + Na2CO3 → Na2SO3 + CO2

Applications

Sodium sulfite is primarily used in the pulp and paper industry.[3]

As an oxygen scavenger agent, it is used to treat water being fed to steam boilers to avoid corrosion problems,[4] in the photographic industry, it protects developer solutions from oxidation and (as hypo clear solution) to wash fixer (sodium thiosulfate) from film and photo-paper emulsions

As a reducing agent it is used in the textile industry as a bleaching, desulfurizing, and dechlorinating agent (e.g. in swimming pools). Its reducing properties are exploited in its use as a preservative to prevent dried fruit from discoloring, and for preserving meats.

It is used as a reagent in sulfonation and sulfomethylation agent. It is used in the production of sodium thiosulfate.

Reactions

Heptahydrate

If sodium sulfite is allowed to crystallize from aqueous solution at room temperature or below, it does so as a heptahydrate.[1] The heptahydrate crystals effloresce in warm dry air. Heptahydrate crystals also oxidize in air to form the sulfate. The anhydrous form is much more stable against oxidation by air.[5]

References

  1. Johnstone, H. F. (1946). "Sulfites and Pyrosulfites of the Alkali Metals". Inorganic Syntheses. 2: 162–167. doi:10.1002/9780470132333.ch49. ISBN 9780470132333.
  2. Weil, Edward D.; Sandler, Stanley R. (1999). "Sulfur Compounds". In Kroschwitz, Jacqueline I. (ed.). Kirk-Othmer Concise Encylclopedia of Chemical Technology (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. p. 1937. ISBN 978-0471419617.
  3. Barberá, José Jiménez; Metzger, Adolf; Wolf, Manfred (2000). "Sulfites, Thiosulfates, and Dithionitesl Chemistry". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_477.
  4. "Pre-boiler and Boiler Corrosion Control | GE Water".
  5. Merck Index of Chemicals and Drugs, 9th ed. monograph 8451
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