Sulfurous acid

Not to be confused with Sulfuric acid.
Sulfurous acid
IUPAC name

Sulfurous acid
Identifiers
CAS number 7782-99-2 Y
PubChem 1100
ChemSpider 1069 Y
UNII J1P7893F4J Y
KEGG C00094 Y
ChEBI CHEBI:48854 N
ChEMBL CHEMBL1161699 Y
Jmol-3D images Image 1
Properties
Molecular formula H2SO3
Molar mass 82.07 g/mol
Acidity (pKa) 1.857, 7.172
Hazards
MSDS ICSC 0074
EU Index 016-011-00-9
EU classification Corrosive (C)
R-phrases R20, R34
S-phrases (S1/2), S9, S26, S36/37/39, S45
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Related compounds Sulfur dioxide
Sulfuric acid
 N (verify) (what is: Y/N?)
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Sulfurous acid (British English: sulphurous 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.[1] 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−.[2] 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. ^ D. Sülzle, M. Verhoeven, J. K. Terlouw, H. Schwarz (1988). "Generation and Characterization of Sulfurous Acid (H2SO3) and of Its Radical Cation as Stable Species in the Gas Phase". Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 27 (11): 1533–4. doi:10.1002/anie.198815331. 
  2. ^ Jolly, William L. (1991), Modern Inorganic Chemistry (2nd ed.), New York: McGraw-Hill, ISBN 0-07-032768-8 

See also