Stupid chemistry question

[Bruce Appel]

Is sodium bisulfite the same thing as sodium metabisulfite?

 

[titrisol]

NO
Metabisulfite = Na2S2O5
Bisulfite = NaHSO3

 

[Bruce Appel]

Thank you

 

[Gerald Koch]

Sodium bisulfite is usually sold only in 30% solution since it is unstable. However, sodium metabisulfite forms sodium bisulfite when dissolved in water. The stoichiometry is such that the metabisulfite can be substituted weight for weight for the bisulfite for all but the most critical applications.

 

[Bruce Appel]

Can I use metabisulfite in lieu of sulfite when mixing pmk

 

[titrisol]

YES
After what Gerald is saying
Thanks for the info!

 

[Gerald Koch]

What Kodak sold as sodium bisulfite was actually metabisulfite. If you want to be more accurate use 0.913 part of the metabisulfite for 1 part of the bisulfite.

 

[Bruce Appel]

Thank you all.