Potassium Metabisulfite
| Infobox on Potassium Metabisulfite | |
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| Example of Potassium Metabisulfite | |
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Potassium Metabisulfite
Description
Potassium metabisulfite, K2S2O5, also known as potassium pyrosulfite, is a white crystalline powder with a pungent sulfur odour. The main use for the chemical is as an antioxidant or chemical sterilant. It is a disulfite and is chemically very similar to sodium metabisulfite, with which it is sometimes used interchangeably. Potassium metabisulfite is generally preferred out of the two as it does not contribute sodium to the diet. The product is soluble in water.
Application
It is used as an antiseptic, reagent, source of sulphurous acid, brewing (cleaning casks and vats), wine-making (said to kill only undesirable yeasts and bacteria), food preservative, developing agent (photography), process engraving and lithography, dyeing, antioxidant, bleaching agent.