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

Etymology

Origin of sulfite

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

Example Sentences

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

"If true, this implies that sulfite was present in the natural environment in at least some water bodies, similar to what we argue here," he said.

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

The rapid addition of the diazonium salt solution to the sodium sulfite seems to be advantageous.

From Organic Syntheses by Conant, James Bryant