bisulfiteja

Bisulfiteja refers to salts or esters of bisulfite, which is the anion HSO3-. Bisulfite is derived from sulfurous acid, H2SO3. In aqueous solution, sulfurous acid exists in equilibrium with its bisulfite and sulfite (SO3^2-) forms, with the exact distribution depending on pH. Bisulfite salts are typically formed by reacting a base with sulfurous acid or by saturating a basic solution with sulfur dioxide. Common bisulfite salts include sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) and potassium bisulfite (KHSO3).

Bisulfite ions are known for their reducing properties. This characteristic makes them useful in various applications, such as in photography as a developing agent, in the food industry as a preservative and antioxidant (e.g., preventing browning in fruits and vegetables), and in winemaking to inhibit microbial growth. They are also employed in the pulp and paper industry for bleaching wood pulp. In chemistry laboratories, bisulfite is used as a reagent for specific organic reactions, such as the bisulfite addition reaction with aldehydes and ketones. The stability of bisulfite solutions is pH-dependent, and they can readily react with oxidizing agents.