Sodium dithionite

Sodium dithionite (also known as

sodium hydrosulfite) is a white
crystalline powder with a weak sulfurous
odor. Although it is stable in the absence
of air, it decomposes in hot water and in
acid solutions.
 Sodium dithionite

Names

Other names
D-Ox
Hydrolin
Reductone
Sodium hydrosulfite
 Sodium sulfoxylate
Sulfoxylate
Vatrolite
Virtex L
Identifiers
CAS Number 7775-14-6  

3D model (JSmol) Interactive image

ChEBI CHEBI:66870  

ChemSpider 22897

ECHA InfoCard 100.028.991

EC Number 231-890-0
PubChem CID 24489

RTECS number JP2100000

UN number 1384
CompTox Dashboard DTXSID9029697
(EPA)

InChI
 InChI=1S/2Na.H2O4S2/c;;1-5(2)6(3)4/h;;(H,1,2)(H,3,4)/q2*+1;/p-2
Key: JVBXVOWTABLYPX-UHFFFAOYSA-L

SMILES
[O-]S(=O)S(=O)[O-].[Na+].[Na+]

Properties
Chemical formula Na2S2O4

Molar mass 174.107 g/mol

(anhydrous)
210.146 g/mol
(dihydrate)

Appearance white to grayish

crystalline powder
light-lemon colored
flakes

Odor faint sulfur odor

Density 2.38 g/cm3

(anhydrous)
 1.58 g/cm3
(dihydrate)
Melting point 52 °C (126 °F; 325 K)

Boiling point Decomposes

Solubility in water 18.2 g/100 mL
(anhydrous, 20 °C)
21.9 g/100 mL
(Dihydrate, 20 °C)

Solubility slightly soluble in

alcohol

Hazards
EU classification Harmful (Xn)
(DSD) (outdated)
R-phrases (outdated) R7, R22, R31

S-phrases (outdated) (S2), S7/8, S26, S28,

S43

NFPA 704 3
2 1
(fire diamond)
Flash point 100 °C (212 °F;
373 K)
Autoignition 200 °C (392 °F;
temperature
473 K)

Related compounds
Other anions Sodium sulfite
Sodium sulfate
Related compounds Sodium thiosulfate
Sodium bisulfite
Sodium metabisulfite
Sodium bisulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are
given for materials in their standard state (at
25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

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Infobox references
Structure
Raman spectroscopy and single-crystal
X-ray diffraction studies reveal that the
geometry of the dithionite anion is
flexible. The dithionite dianion has C2
symmetry, with almost eclipsed with a
16° O-S-S-O torsional angle. In the
dihydrated form (Na2S2O4·2H2O), the
dithionite anion has a shorter S-S bond
length and a gauche 56° O-S-S-O
torsional angle.[1]

A weak S-S bond is indicated by the S-S

distance of 239 pm. Because this bond is
fragile, the dithionite anion dissociates in
solution into the [SO2]− radical anion, as
has been confirmed by EPR
spectroscopy. It is also observed that 35S
undergoes rapid exchange between
S2O42− and SO2 in neutral or acidic
solution, consistent with the weak S-S
bond in the anion.[2]

Preparation
Sodium dithionite is produced industrially
by reduction of sulfur dioxide. Several
methods are employed, including
reduction with zinc powder, sodium
borohydride, and formate. Approximately
300,000 tons were produced in 1990.[3]
Properties and reactions

Hydrolysis …

Sodium dithionite is stable when dry, but

aqueous solutions deteriorate due to the
following reaction:

2 S2O42− + H2O → S2O32− + 2 HSO3−

This behavior is consistent with the

instability of dithionous acid. Thus,
solutions of sodium dithionite cannot be
stored for a long period of time.[2]

Anhydrous sodium dithionite

decomposes to sodium sulfate and
sulfur dioxide above 90 °C in the air. In
absence of air, it decomposes quickly
above 150 °C to sodium sulfite, sodium
thiosulfate, sulfur dioxide and trace
amount of sulfur.

Redox reactions …

Sodium dithionite is a reducing agent. At

pH=7, the potential is -0.66 V vs NHE.
Redox occurs with formation of sulfite:[4]

S2O42- + 2 H2O → 2 HSO3− + 2 e− + 2

H+

Sodium dithionite reacts with oxygen:

Na2S2O4 + O2 + H2O → NaHSO4 +

NaHSO3
These reactions exhibit complex pH-
dependent equilibria involving bisulfite,
thiosulfate, and sulfur dioxide.

With organic carbonyls …

In the presence of aldehydes, sodium

dithionite reacts either to form α-hydroxy-
sulfinates at room temperature or to
reduce the aldehyde to the
corresponding alcohol above a
temperature of 85 °C.[5][6] Some ketones
are also reduced under similar
conditions.

Applications
Industry …

This compound is a water-soluble salt,

and can be used as a reducing agent in
aqueous solutions. It is used as such in
some industrial dyeing processes,
primarily those involving sulfur dyes and
vat dyes, where an otherwise water-
insoluble dye can be reduced into a
water-soluble alkali metal salt (e.g.
indigo dye).[7] The reduction properties of
sodium dithionite also eliminate excess
dye, residual oxide, and unintended
pigments, thereby improving overall
colour quality.

Sodium dithionite can also be used for

water treatment, gas purification,
cleaning, and stripping. It can also be
used in industrial processes as a
sulfonating agent or a sodium ion
source. In addition to the textile industry,
this compound is used in industries
concerned with leather, foods, polymers,
photography, and many others. Its wide
use is attributable to its low toxicity LD50
at 5 g/kg, and hence its wide range of
applications. It is also used as
decolourising agent in organic reactions.

Biological sciences …

Sodium dithionite is often used in

physiology experiments as a means of
lowering solutions' redox potential (Eo'
-0.66 V vs SHE at pH 7).[8] Potassium
ferricyanide is usually used as an
oxidizing chemical in such experiments
(Eo' ~ .436 V at pH 7). In addition, sodium
dithionite is often used in soil chemistry
experiments to determine the amount of
iron that is not incorporated in primary
silicate minerals. Hence, iron extracted
by sodium dithionite is also referred to as
"free iron." The strong affinity of the
dithionite ion for bi- and trivalent metal
cations (M2+, M3+) allows it to enhance
the solubility of iron, and therefore
dithionite is a useful chelating agent.

Geosciences …
Sodium dithionite has been used in
chemical enhanced oil recovery to
stabilize polyacrylamide polymers
against radical degradation in the
presence of iron. It has also been used in
environmental applications to propagate
a low Eh front in the subsurface in order
to reduce components such as
chromium.

Photography …

It is used in Kodak fogging developer, FD-

70. This is used in the second step in
processing black and white positive
images, for making slides. It is part of the
Kodak Direct Positive Film Developing
Outfit.[9]

Home …

The main use of sodium dithionite at

home is as a decoloring agent for white
laundry, when it has been accidentally
stained by way of a dyed item slipping
into the high temperature washing cycle.
It is usually available in 5 gram sachets
termed hydrosulfite after the antiquated
name of the salt.

Laboratory …
Aqueous solutions of sodium dithionite
were once used to produce "Fieser's
solution' for the removal of oxygen from
a gas stream.[10] Pyrithione can be
prepared in a two-step synthesis from 2-
bromopyridine by oxidation to the N-
oxide with a suitable peracid followed by
substitution using sodium dithionite to
introduce the thiol functional group.[11]

See also
Dithionite

References
1. Weinrach, J. B.; Meyer, D. R.; Guy, J.
T.; Michalski, P. E.; Carter, K. L.;
 Grubisha, D. S.; Bennett, D. W. (1992).
"A structural study of sodium
dithionite and its ephemeral
dihydrate: A new conformation for
the dithionite ion". Journal of
Crystallographic and Spectroscopic
Research. 22 (3): 291–301.
doi:10.1007/BF01199531 .
2. Catherine E. Housecroft; Alan G.
Sharpe (2008). "Chapter 16: The
group 16 elements". Inorganic
Chemistry, 3rd Edition. Pearson.
p. 520. ISBN 978-0-13-175553-6.
3. José Jiménez Barberá; Adolf
Metzger; Manfred Wolf (15 June
2000). "Sulfites, Thiosulfates, and
Dithionites". Ullmann's Encyclopedia
of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley Online
Library.
doi:10.1002/14356007.a25_477 .
ISBN 978-3527306732.
4. Mayhew, S. G. (2008). "The Redox
Potential of Dithionite and SO−2
from Equilibrium Reactions with
Flavodoxins, Methyl Viologen and
Hydrogen plus Hydrogenase".
European Journal of Biochemistry.
85 (2): 535–547. doi:10.1111/j.1432-
1033.1978.tb12269.x .
PMID 648533 .
5. J. Org. Chem., 1980, 45 (21), pp
4126–4129,
http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.102
1/jo01309a011
6. "Aldehyde sulfoxylate systemic
fungicides" . google.com. Archived
from the original on 27 April 2018.
Retrieved 27 April 2018.
7. Božič, Mojca; Kokol, Vanja (2008).
"Ecological alternatives to the
reduction and oxidation processes in
dyeing with vat and sulphur dyes".
Dyes and Pigments. 76 (2): 299–
309.
doi:10.1016/j.dyepig.2006.05.041 .
8. MAYHEW, Stephen G. (1978). "The
Redox Potential of Dithionite and SO-
2 from Equilibrium Reactions with
Flavodoxins, Methyl Viologen and
Hydrogen plus Hydrogenase".
European Journal of Biochemistry.
85 (2): 535–547. doi:10.1111/j.1432-
1033.1978.tb12269.x . ISSN 0014-
2956 . PMID 648533 .
9. "Kodak Direct Positive Film 5246"
(PDF). 125px.com. Kodak. Retrieved
6 November 2019.
10. Kenneth L. Williamson "Reduction of
Indigo: Sodium Hydrosulfite as a
Reducing Agent" J. Chem. Educ.,
1989, volume 66, p 359.
doi:10.1021/ed066p359.2
11. Knight, David W.; Hartung, Jens (15
September 2006). "1-
Hydroxypyridine-2(1H)-thione". 1-
Hydroxypyridine-2(1H)-thione.
Encyclopedia of Reagents for
Organic Synthesis. John Wiley &
Sons.
doi:10.1002/047084289X.rh067.pu
b2 . ISBN 978-0471936237.

External links
Sodium dithionite - ipcs inchem[1]
 1. "Sodium dithionite - ipcs inchem"
(PDF). www.inchem.org. Berliln,
Germany. 2004. Retrieved 15 June
2018.

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