sulfite

American  

[suhl-fahyt] / ˈsʌl faɪt /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a salt or ester of sulfurous acid.

2. any sulfite-containing compound, especially one that is used in foods or drug products as a preservative and that can cause severe allergic reactions in susceptible individuals: use in fresh fruits and vegetables banned by the FDA in 1986.

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sulfite Scientific  

/ sŭl′fīt′ /

1. A salt or ester of sulfurous acid, containing the group SO ₃.

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Other Word Forms

• sulfitic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of sulfite

First recorded in 1780–90; sulf(ur) + -ite ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sulfite

To do so, it has compounds called sulfite oxidases that create sulfate from sulfite – the 20 milligrams in a glass of wine are unlikely to overwhelm your sulfite oxidases.

From Salon ● Dec. 16, 2024

Frozen shrimp may contain preservatives like sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium bisulfite, which people with sulfite or phosphate sensitivities may want to avoid.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 2, 2024

In their setup, Ranjan and his co-authors dissolved sulfite in water at various levels of acidity or alkalinity, locked it into a container under an oxygen-free atmosphere and let it "age," as Ranjan put it.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 13, 2024

To make the humanmade version, the team first softened thin strips of oak by boiling them with lye and sodium sulfite.

From Science Magazine ● Feb. 15, 2023

Then it was found that other coniferous woods might be used to replace the rags, after being submitted to what is called the sulfite process.

From How To Write Special Feature Articles A Handbook for Reporters, Correspondents and Free-Lance Writers Who Desire to Contribute to Popular Magazines and Magazine Sections of Newspapers by Willard Grosvenor Bleyer

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