Sulfurous acid

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Sulfurous acid
Sulfurous acid
Ball-and-stick model fo sulfurous acid
IUPAC name Sulfurous acid
Identifiers
InChI InChI=1/H2O3S/c1-4(2)3/h(H2,1,2,3)
InChIKey LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYAJ
Standard InChI InChI=1S/H2O3S/c1-4(2)3/h(H2,1,2,3)
Standard InChIKey LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-N
CAS number [7782-99-2]
EC number 231-973-1
ChemSpider 1069
Properties
Chemical formula H2SO3
Molar mass 82.07 g/mol
Hazards[1]
Material safety data sheet (MSDS) ICSC 0074
EU index number 016-011-00-9
GHS pictograms Acute Tox. (inhal.) 3Skin Corr. 1B
GHS signal word DANGER
GHS hazard statements H331, H314
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other compounds Sulfur dioxide
Sulfuric acid
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)

Sulfurous acid is the chemical compound with the formula H2SO3. There is no evidence that sulfurous acid exists in solution, but the molecule has been detected in the gas phase.[2] The conjugate bases of this elusive acid are, however, common anions, bisulfite (or hydrogensulfite) and sulfite.

Raman spectra of solutions of sulfur dioxide in water show only signals due to the SO2 molecule and the bisulfite ion, HSO3.[3] The intensities of the signals are consistent with the following equilibrium:

SO2 + H2O HSO3 + H+
Ka = 1.54 × 10−2; pKa = 1.81.

Aqueous solutions of sulfur dioxide, which sometimes are referred to as sulfurous acid are used as reducing agents and as disinfectants, as are solutions of bisulfite and sulfite salts. They are also mild bleaches, and are used for materials which may be damaged by chlorine-containing bleaches.

References

  1. Index no. 016-011-00-9 of Annex VI, Part 3, to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures, amending and repealing Directives 67/548/EEC and 1999/45/EC, and amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006. OJEU L353, 31.12.2008, pp 1–1355 at p 399.
  2. Sülzle, Detlev; Verhoeven, Marjon; Terlouw, Johan K.; Schwarz, Helmut Generation and Characterization of Sulfurous Acid (H2SO3) and of Its Radical Cation as Stable Species in the Gas Phase. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1988, 27, 1533–34. DOI: 10.1002/anie.198815331.
  3. Jolly, William L. Modern Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd ed.; McGraw-Hill: New York, 1991; p 227. ISBN 0-07-032768-8.
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