Sodium metabisulfite

Sodium Metabisulfite

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Sodium metabisulfite

Sodium metabisulfite or sodium pyrosulfite (IUPAC spelling; Br. E. sodium metabisulphite or sodium pyrosulphite) is an inorganic compound

Inorganic compound

Traditionally, inorganic compounds are considered to be of a mineral, not biological, origin. Complementarily, most organic compounds are traditionally viewed as being of biological origin....
of chemical formula Na₂S₂O₅. The name is sometimes referred to as disodium (metabisulfite, etc). It is used as a disinfectant, antioxidant

Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the Redox of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent....
and preservative

Preservative

A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical compound that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, wood, etc....
agent.

s used as a food additive, mainly as a preservative and is sometimes identified as E223

E number

E numbers are number codes for food additives and are usually found on food labels throughout the European Union. The numbering scheme follows that of the International Numbering System as determined by the Codex Alimentarius committee....
.

It may cause allergic reactions in those who are sensitive to sulfites.

It is present in many dilutable squashes (i.e.

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Uses

Food additive

It is used as a food additive, mainly as a preservative and is sometimes identified as E223

E number

Potassium metabisulfite

Potassium metabisulfite, K2S2O5, is a white crystalline powder with a pungent sulfur odour. The main use for the chemical is as an antioxidant or Sterilization #Chemical sterilization....
are the primary ingredients in Campden tablets

Campden tablets

Campden tablets are a sulphur-based product that is used primarily in Winemaking, cider and Brewing to kill certain bacteria and to inhibit the growth of most wild yeast: this product is also used to eliminate both free chlorine, and the more stable form, chloramine, from water solutions ....
, used for wine

Wine

Wine is an alcoholic beverage often made of fermentation grape juice. The natural chemical balance of grapes is such that they can ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes or other nutrients....
and beer

Beer

Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and Fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal?the most common of which is malted barley, although wheat, maize , and rice are widely used....
making.

The acceptable daily intake is up to 0.7 mg per kg of body weight. Sodium metabisulfite has no side effects; it is oxidised in the liver to harmless sulfate and excreted in the urine.

Sanitization / Cleaning agent

It is commonly used in homebrewing

Homebrewing

"Homebrewing" typically refers to the brewing of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages on a small scale as a hobby for personal consumption, free distribution at social gatherings, amateur brewing competitions or other non-commercial reasons....
preparations to sanitize equipment. It is used as a cleaning agent for potable water reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a filtration process typically used for water. It works by using pressure to force a solution through a semi-permeable membrane, retaining the solute on one side and allowing the pure solvent to pass to the other side....
membranes in desalination

Desalination

Desalination, desalinization, or desalinisation refers to any of several processes that remove excess sodium chloride and other minerals from water....
systems. It is also used to remove chloramine

Chloramine

Chloramine is a chemical compound with the chemical formula NH2Cl. It is usually used as a dilute solution where it is used as a disinfectant....
from drinking water after treatment.

Other uses

Concentrated sodium metabisulfite can be used to remove tree stump

Tree stump

After a tree has been cut and felled, the stump or tree stump is usually a small remaining portion of the trunk with the roots still in the ground....
s. The Stump-Out brand has 98% sodium metabisulfite, and causes degradation of lignin

Lignin

Lignin or lignen is a complex chemical compound most commonly derived from wood, and an integral part of the secondary cell walls of plants and some algae....
in the stumps, facilitating removal.

It is also used as an excipient

Excipient

An excipient is an inactive substance used as a carrier for the active ingredients of a medication. In many cases, an "active" substance may not be easily administered and absorbed by the human body; in such cases the substance in question may be dissolved into or mixed with an excipient....
in some tablets, such as paracetamol

Paracetamol

Paracetamol or acetaminophen is a widely used over-the-counter drug analgesic and antipyretic . It is commonly used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains, and is a major ingredient in numerous common cold and Influenza remedies....
.

A very important health related aspect of this substance is that it can be added to a blood smear in a test for sickle cell anaemia (and other similar forms of haemoglobin mutation

Mutation

In biology, mutations are changes to the nucleotide sequence of the genetic material of an organism. Mutations can be caused by copying errors in the genetic material during cell division, by exposure to ultraviolet or ionizing radiation, chemical mutagens, or virus , or can be induced by the organism, itself, by cellular processes such as s...
). The substances causes defunct cells to sickle (through a complex polymerisation) hence confirming disease.

Chemical properties

When mixed with water, sodium metabisulfite releases sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula SO2. It is produced by volcanoes and in various industrial processes. Since coal and petroleum often contain sulfur compounds, their combustion generates sulfur dioxide....
(SO₂), a pungent, unpleasant smelling gas that can also cause breathing difficulties in some people. For this reason, sodium metabisulfite has fallen from common use in recent times, with agents such as hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a very pale blue liquid which appears colorless in a dilute solution, slightly more viscous than water. It is a weak acid....
becoming more popular for effective and odorless sterilization of equipment. Released sulfur dioxide however makes the water a strong reducing agent.

Sodium metabisulfite

Uses

Food additive

Sanitization / Cleaning agent

Other uses

Chemical properties

External links