What is "sodium sulfite"

alt. (context chemistry English) The sodium salt of sulfurous acid, Na₂SO₃, used as a food preservative, in photography and in many industrial applications. n. (context chemistry English) The sodium salt of sulfurous acid, Na₂SO₃, used as a food preservative, in photography and in many industrial applications.

Sodium sulfite (sodium sulphite) is a soluble sodium salt of sulfurous acid ( sulfite) with the chemical formula Na SO. It is a product of sulfur dioxide scrubbing, a part of the flue-gas desulfurization process. It is also used as a preservative to prevent dried fruit from discoloring, and for preserving meats, and is used in the same way as sodium thiosulfate to convert elemental halogens to their respective hydrohalic acids, in photography and for reducing chlorine levels in pools.