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Potassium Sulfite

PubChem CID
24958
Structure
Potassium Sulfite_small.png
Molecular Formula
Synonyms
  • POTASSIUM SULFITE
  • 10117-38-1
  • Dipotassium sulfite
  • Potassium sulphite
  • Sulfurous acid, dipotassium salt
Molecular Weight
158.26 g/mol
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Dates
  • Create:
    2005-08-08
  • Modify:
    2025-01-25

1 Structures

1.1 2D Structure

Chemical Structure Depiction
Potassium Sulfite.png

1.2 3D Status

Conformer generation is disallowed since MMFF94s unsupported element, mixture or salt

2 Names and Identifiers

2.1 Computed Descriptors

2.1.1 IUPAC Name

dipotassium;sulfite
Computed by Lexichem TK 2.7.0 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.1.2 InChI

InChI=1S/2K.H2O3S/c;;1-4(2)3/h;;(H2,1,2,3)/q2*+1;/p-2
Computed by InChI 1.0.6 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.1.3 InChIKey

BHZRJJOHZFYXTO-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Computed by InChI 1.0.6 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.1.4 SMILES

[O-]S(=O)[O-].[K+].[K+]
Computed by OEChem 2.3.0 (PubChem release 2024.12.12)

2.2 Molecular Formula

K2O3S
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)

2.3 Other Identifiers

2.3.1 CAS

10117-38-1

2.3.2 Deprecated CAS

126048-06-4

2.3.3 European Community (EC) Number

2.3.4 UNII

2.3.5 DSSTox Substance ID

2.3.6 HMDB ID

2.3.7 Nikkaji Number

2.3.8 Wikidata

2.4 Synonyms

2.4.1 Depositor-Supplied Synonyms

3 Chemical and Physical Properties

3.1 Computed Properties

Property Name
Molecular Weight
Property Value
158.26 g/mol
Reference
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count
Property Value
4
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Rotatable Bond Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Exact Mass
Property Value
157.88422800 Da
Reference
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Monoisotopic Mass
Property Value
157.88422800 Da
Reference
Computed by PubChem 2.2 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Topological Polar Surface Area
Property Value
82.4 Ų
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Heavy Atom Count
Property Value
6
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Formal Charge
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Complexity
Property Value
18.8
Reference
Computed by Cactvs 3.4.8.18 (PubChem release 2021.10.14)
Property Name
Isotope Atom Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count
Property Value
0
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count
Property Value
3
Reference
Computed by PubChem
Property Name
Compound Is Canonicalized
Property Value
Yes
Reference
Computed by PubChem (release 2021.10.14)

3.2 Experimental Properties

3.2.1 Physical Description

Liquid
Dihydrate: White solid; Slowly oxidized by air to sulfate; [Merck Index] White powder; [MSDSonline]

3.2.2 Solubility

White crystals or crystalline powder; sol in about 3.5 parts water; decomposed by diluted acids with evolution of sulfur dioxide; pH about 8 /dihydrate/
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1996., p. 1318
White-yellowish, hexagonal form; insol in ammonia; slightly sol in alcohol /dihydrate/
Lewis, R.J., Sr (Ed.). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. 13th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1997., p. 4-81

3.2.3 Stability / Shelf Life

GRADUALLY OXIDIZES IN AIR TO SULFATE. /DIHYDRATE/
The Merck Index. 9th ed. Rahway, New Jersey: Merck & Co., Inc., 1976., p. 995

3.2.4 Other Experimental Properties

Decomposes on heating /dihydrate/
Lewis, R.J., Sr (Ed.). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. 13th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1997., p. 923

3.3 Chemical Classes

Other Classes -> Sulfites

3.3.1 Cosmetics

Cosmetic ingredients (Potassium Sulfite) -> CIR (Cosmetic Ingredient Review)
Preservative; Reducing
S13 | EUCOSMETICS | Combined Inventory of Ingredients Employed in Cosmetic Products (2000) and Revised Inventory (2006) | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.2624118

3.3.2 Food Additives

Use unspecified -> FDA Substance added to food

4 Spectral Information

4.1 IR Spectra

4.1.1 FTIR Spectra

Technique
KBr WAFER
Source of Sample
The Matheson Company, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thumbnail
Thumbnail

4.1.2 ATR-IR Spectra

Source of Sample
Aldrich
Catalog Number
289817
Copyright
Copyright © 2018-2024 Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC. - Database Compilation Copyright © 2018-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thumbnail
Thumbnail

4.2 Raman Spectra

1 of 2
Instrument Name
Bio-Rad FTS 175C with Raman accessory
Technique
FT-Raman
Source of Sample
The Matheson Company, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thumbnail
Thumbnail
2 of 2
Instrument Name
Bio-Rad FTS 175C with Raman accessory
Technique
FT-Raman
Source of Sample
The Matheson Company, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
Copyright
Copyright © 1980, 1981-2024 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Thumbnail
Thumbnail

6 Chemical Vendors

7 Drug and Medication Information

7.1 Reported Fatal Dose

TOXICITY RATINGS: 3. 3= MODERATELY TOXIC: PROBABLE ORAL LETHAL DOSE (HUMAN) 0.5-5 G/KG, BETWEEN 1 OZ & 1 PINT (OR 1 LB) FOR 70 KG PERSON (150 LB). /SULFITE SALTS/
Gosselin, R.E., H.C. Hodge, R.P. Smith, and M.N. Gleason. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1976., p. II-43

8 Food Additives and Ingredients

8.1 Food Additive Classes

JECFA Functional Classes
ANTIOXIDANT;

8.2 FDA Substances Added to Food

Used for (Technical Effect)
Use unspecified
Document Number (21 eCFR)

8.3 Evaluations of the Joint FAO / WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives - JECFA

Chemical Name
POTASSIUM SULFITE
Evaluation Year
1998
ADI
0-0.7 mg/kg bw
Tox Monograph

9 Use and Manufacturing

9.1 Uses

Cosmetic Ingredient Review Link
CIR ingredient: Potassium Sulfite
EPA CPDat Chemical and Product Categories
The Chemical and Products Database, a resource for exposure-relevant data on chemicals in consumer products, Scientific Data, volume 5, Article number: 180125 (2018), DOI:10.1038/sdata.2018.125
Sources/Uses
Used in photography, food and cosmetics (preservative and antioxidant), and drugs (cathartic and diuretic); [HSDB]
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure
Photographic Processing [Category: Other]
Photography; preservative and antioxidant in foods
Lewis, R.J., Sr (Ed.). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. 13th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1997., p. 923
Medication: cathartic, diuretic
Budavari, S. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1996., p. 1318
COMPONENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC DEVELOPERS; FOOD ADDITIVE (EG, PRESERVATIVE & ANTIOXIDANT); INGREDIENT IN COSMETICS (EG, HAIR PREPARATIONS)
SRI

9.1.1 Use Classification

ANTIOXIDANT; -> JECFA Functional Classes
Cosmetics -> Preservative; Reducing
S13 | EUCOSMETICS | Combined Inventory of Ingredients Employed in Cosmetic Products (2000) and Revised Inventory (2006) | DOI:10.5281/zenodo.2624118

9.1.2 Industry Uses

  • Intermediates
  • Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable
  • Oxidizing/reducing agents
  • Other (specify)
  • Reducing agent
  • Agricultural chemicals (non-pesticidal)
  • Soil amendments (fertilizers)

9.1.3 Consumer Uses

  • Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable
  • Oxidizing/reducing agents
  • Agricultural chemicals (non-pesticidal)
  • Photosensitive chemicals
  • Soil amendments (fertilizers)

9.2 Methods of Manufacturing

PROBABLY BY THE ABSORPTION OF SULFUR DIOXIDE IN POTASSIUM CARBONATE OR POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE
SRI

9.3 Formulations / Preparations

Grades: technical; CP; FCC.
Lewis, R.J., Sr (Ed.). Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary. 13th ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1997., p. 923

9.4 U.S. Production

Aggregated Product Volume

2019: 100,000,000 lb - <1,000,000,000 lb

2018: 100,000,000 lb - <1,000,000,000 lb

2017: 100,000,000 lb - <1,000,000,000 lb

2016: 100,000,000 lb - <1,000,000,000 lb

(1977) No Data
SRI
(1979) No Data
SRI

9.5 U.S. Imports

(1977) No Data
SRI
(1979) No Data
SRI

9.6 U.S. Exports

(1977) No Data
SRI
(1979) No Data
SRI

9.7 General Manufacturing Information

Industry Processing Sectors
  • Utilities
  • Not Known or Reasonably Ascertainable
  • All Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing
  • Mining (except Oil and Gas) and support activities
  • Food, beverage, and tobacco product manufacturing
  • Other (requires additional information)
  • Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing
EPA TSCA Commercial Activity Status
Sulfurous acid, potassium salt (1:2): ACTIVE

10 Safety and Hazards

10.1 Hazards Identification

10.1.1 GHS Classification

1 of 2
View All
Note
This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 80.4% (225 of 280) of all reports. Pictograms displayed are for 19.6% (55 of 280) of reports that indicate hazard statements.
Pictogram(s)
Irritant
Signal
Warning
GHS Hazard Statements

H315 (17.5%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

H319 (19.3%): Causes serious eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H335 (17.1%): May cause respiratory irritation [Warning Specific target organ toxicity, single exposure; Respiratory tract irritation]

Precautionary Statement Codes

P261, P264, P264+P265, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P319, P321, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P403+P233, P405, and P501

(The corresponding statement to each P-code can be found at the GHS Classification page.)

ECHA C&L Notifications Summary

Aggregated GHS information provided per 280 reports by companies from 10 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Reported as not meeting GHS hazard criteria per 225 of 280 reports by companies. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

There are 7 notifications provided by 55 of 280 reports by companies with hazard statement code(s).

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown.

10.1.2 Hazard Classes and Categories

Skin Irrit. 2 (17.5%)

Eye Irrit. 2 (19.3%)

STOT SE 3 (17.1%)

Acute toxicity - category 4

Eye damage - category 1

10.1.3 Hazards Summary

An irritant; [MSDSonline] See SULFITES.

10.2 Accidental Release Measures

10.2.1 Disposal Methods

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

10.3 Handling and Storage

10.3.1 Storage Conditions

KEEP WELL CLOSED IN COOL PLACE. /DIHYDRATE/
The Merck Index. 9th ed. Rahway, New Jersey: Merck & Co., Inc., 1976., p. 995

10.4 Regulatory Information

The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals
Chemical: Sulfurous acid, dipotassium salt
REACH Registered Substance
New Zealand EPA Inventory of Chemical Status
Sulfurous acid, dipotassium salt: Does not have an individual approval but may be used as a component in a product covered by a group standard. It is not approved for use as a chemical in its own right.

10.5 Other Safety Information

Chemical Assessment

IMAP assessments - Sulfurous acid, dipotassium salt: Environment tier I assessment

IMAP assessments - Sulfites: Human health tier II assessment

11 Toxicity

11.1 Toxicological Information

11.1.1 Adverse Effects

Asthma - Reversible bronchoconstriction (narrowing of bronchioles) initiated by the inhalation of irritating or allergenic agents.

11.1.2 Antidote and Emergency Treatment

TREATMENT IS SYMPTOMATIC & SUPPORTIVE. /SULFITE SALTS/
Gosselin, R.E., H.C. Hodge, R.P. Smith, and M.N. Gleason. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1976., p. II-43
Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if necessary. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 m1/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Administer activated charcoal ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Sulfur and related compounds/
Bronstein, A.C., P.L. Currance; Emergency Care for Hazardous Materials Exposure. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO. Mosby Lifeline. 1994., p. 433-4
Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious. Early intubation at the first sign of upper airway obstruction may be necessary. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias if necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Consider vasopressors for hypotension with a normal fluid volume. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Sulfur and related compounds/
Bronstein, A.C., P.L. Currance; Emergency Care for Hazardous Materials Exposure. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO. Mosby Lifeline. 1994., p. 434

11.1.3 Human Toxicity Excerpts

WHEN INGESTED, SOLN CAUSE GASTRIC IRRITATION BY LIBERATION OF SULFUROUS ACID. BECAUSE OF RAPID OXIDATION TO SULFATE, SULFITES ARE WELL TOLERATED UNTIL LARGE DOSES ARE REACHED; THEN VIOLENT COLIC & DIARRHEA, CIRCULATORY DISTURBANCES, CENTRAL NERVOUS DEPRESSION, & DEATH ARE DESCRIBED. /SULFITE SALTS/
Gosselin, R.E., H.C. Hodge, R.P. Smith, and M.N. Gleason. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1976., p. II-43

11.1.4 Populations at Special Risk

Some asthmatics are said to be dangerously sensitive to minute amounts of sulfites in foods. /Sulfites/
Gosselin, R.E., R.P. Smith, H.C. Hodge. Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1984., p. II-123

12 Associated Disorders and Diseases

Associated Occupational Diseases with Exposure to the Compound
Asthma, occupational [Category: Airway Disease]

13 Literature

13.1 Consolidated References

13.2 Springer Nature References

13.3 Thieme References

13.4 Chemical Co-Occurrences in Literature

13.5 Chemical-Gene Co-Occurrences in Literature

13.6 Chemical-Disease Co-Occurrences in Literature

14 Patents

14.1 Depositor-Supplied Patent Identifiers

14.2 WIPO PATENTSCOPE

14.3 Chemical Co-Occurrences in Patents

14.4 Chemical-Disease Co-Occurrences in Patents

14.5 Chemical-Gene Co-Occurrences in Patents

15 Classification

15.1 ChemIDplus

15.2 UN GHS Classification

15.3 EPA CPDat Classification

15.4 NORMAN Suspect List Exchange Classification

15.5 EPA DSSTox Classification

15.6 EPA TSCA and CDR Classification

15.7 EPA Substance Registry Services Tree

15.8 MolGenie Organic Chemistry Ontology

16 Information Sources

  1. Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS)
  2. ChemIDplus
    ChemIDplus Chemical Information Classification
    https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/source/ChemIDplus
  3. EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
    LICENSE
    The U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce these documents, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. These documents may be freely distributed and used for non-commercial, scientific and educational purposes.
    https://www.epa.gov/web-policies-and-procedures/epa-disclaimers#copyright
    Sulfurous acid, potassium salt (1:2)
    https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting
  4. EPA Chemicals under the TSCA
    Sulfurous acid, potassium salt (1:2)
    https://www.epa.gov/chemicals-under-tsca
    EPA TSCA Classification
    https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory
  5. EPA DSSTox
    CompTox Chemicals Dashboard Chemical Lists
    https://comptox.epa.gov/dashboard/chemical-lists/
  6. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)
    LICENSE
    Use of the information, documents and data from the ECHA website is subject to the terms and conditions of this Legal Notice, and subject to other binding limitations provided for under applicable law, the information, documents and data made available on the ECHA website may be reproduced, distributed and/or used, totally or in part, for non-commercial purposes provided that ECHA is acknowledged as the source: "Source: European Chemicals Agency, http://echa.europa.eu/". Such acknowledgement must be included in each copy of the material. ECHA permits and encourages organisations and individuals to create links to the ECHA website under the following cumulative conditions: Links can only be made to webpages that provide a link to the Legal Notice page.
    https://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/legal-notice
  7. FDA Global Substance Registration System (GSRS)
    LICENSE
    Unless otherwise noted, the contents of the FDA website (www.fda.gov), both text and graphics, are not copyrighted. They are in the public domain and may be republished, reprinted and otherwise used freely by anyone without the need to obtain permission from FDA. Credit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the source is appreciated but not required.
    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  8. Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
  9. New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
    LICENSE
    This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International licence.
    https://www.epa.govt.nz/about-this-site/general-copyright-statement/
  10. Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)
  11. EPA Chemical and Products Database (CPDat)
  12. Haz-Map, Information on Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases
    LICENSE
    Copyright (c) 2022 Haz-Map(R). All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials from Haz-Map are copyrighted by Haz-Map(R). No part of these materials, either text or image may be used for any purpose other than for personal use. Therefore, reproduction, modification, storage in a retrieval system or retransmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, for reasons other than personal use, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
    https://haz-map.com/About
  13. NORMAN Suspect List Exchange
    LICENSE
    Data: CC-BY 4.0; Code (hosted by ECI, LCSB): Artistic-2.0
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
    NORMAN Suspect List Exchange Classification
    https://www.norman-network.com/nds/SLE/
  14. Hazardous Chemical Information System (HCIS), Safe Work Australia
  15. FDA Substances Added to Food
    LICENSE
    Unless otherwise noted, the contents of the FDA website (www.fda.gov), both text and graphics, are not copyrighted. They are in the public domain and may be republished, reprinted and otherwise used freely by anyone without the need to obtain permission from FDA. Credit to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the source is appreciated but not required.
    https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/about-website/website-policies#linking
  16. Human Metabolome Database (HMDB)
    LICENSE
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    http://www.hmdb.ca/citing
  17. Japan Chemical Substance Dictionary (Nikkaji)
  18. Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)
    LICENSE
    Permission from WHO is not required for the use of WHO materials issued under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Intergovernmental Organization (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO) licence.
    https://www.who.int/about/policies/publishing/copyright
  19. SpectraBase
  20. Springer Nature
  21. Thieme Chemistry
    LICENSE
    The Thieme Chemistry contribution within PubChem is provided under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license, unless otherwise stated.
    https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
  22. Wikidata
  23. PubChem
  24. GHS Classification (UNECE)
  25. EPA Substance Registry Services
  26. MolGenie
    MolGenie Organic Chemistry Ontology
    https://github.com/MolGenie/ontology/
  27. PATENTSCOPE (WIPO)
CONTENTS