sulfurous acid

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless liquid, H 2 SO 3 , having a suffocating odor, obtained by dissolving sulfur dioxide in water, known mainly by its salts, which are sulfites: used chiefly in organic synthesis and as a bleach.

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sulfurous acid Scientific  

1. A colorless solution of sulfur dioxide in water, characterized by a suffocating sulfurous odor. It is used as a bleaching agent, preservative, and disinfectant. Chemical formula: H ₂ SO ₃ .

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Etymology

Origin of sulfurous acid

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sulfurous acid

Which is a stronger acid, sulfurous acid or sulfuric acid?

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

In order to prepare solid sulfite and hydrogen sulfite salts, it is necessary to add a stoichiometric amount of a base to a sulfurous acid solution and then evaporate the water.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Calcium carbonate reacts with sulfurous acid as follows:

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

Heating a solution of sulfurous acid expels the sulfur dioxide.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

When sulfur is burned, a gas is formed known as sulfurous acid, and until the last few years, it was the most common of all disinfecting agencies.

From Rural Hygiene by Ogden, Henry N. (Henry Neely)