Potassium Sulfite

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  • Identifiers

    CAS number
    10117-38-1

    Molecular formula
    K2O3S

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

    Safety labels

    Irritant
    Irritant

  • Odor profile

    Fragrance
    Odorless 86.27%
    Savory 17.48%
    Sulfurous 16.92%
    Cooked 16.16%
    Pungent 13.52%
    Clean 12.82%
    Meaty 12.38%
    Roasted 11.52%
    Sharp 11.15%
    Fresh 10.8%

     

    Flavor
    Odorless 56.31%
    Mild 21.52%
    Formyl 21.45%
    Mousy 21.13%
    Bitter 20.93%
    Bland 20.29%
    Rotten 20.08%
    Sour 19.72%
    Nitrile 19.44%
    Soy 19.33%

     

    Odor impact est.
    High

  • Properties

    pKa est.
    -10.02 (strong acid)

    Molecular weight
    158.26 g/mol

    Flash point

    • 70.02 ˚C est.

    Solubility expt.

    • White crystals or crystalline powder; sol in about 3.5 parts water; decomposed by diluted acids with evolution of sulfur dioxide; pH about 8 /dihydrate/
    • White-yellowish, hexagonal form; insol in ammonia; slightly sol in alcohol /dihydrate/

  • Synonyms

    • POTASSIUM SULFITE
    • 10117-38-1
    • Dipotassium sulfite
    • Potassium sulphite
    • Sulfurous acid, dipotassium salt
    • Potassiumsulfite
    • Sulfurous acid, potassium salt (1:2)
    • dipotassium;sulfite
    • Potassium sulfite (K2SO3)
    • UNII-015KZC652E
    • Sulfurous acid, potassium salt
    • Potassium sulfite(IV)
    • HSDB 5052
    • 015KZC652E
    • EINECS 233-321-1
    • DIPOTASSIUM SULPHITE
    • POTASSIUM SULFITE [MI]
    • INS NO.225
    • POTASSIUM SULFITE [FCC]
    • POTASSIUM SULFITE [HSDB]
    • DTXSID80889532
    • INS-225
    • EC 233-321-1
    • E-225
    • Potassium sulfide anhydrous
    • Kaliumsulfit
    • E225
    • Potassium sulfite, 90%
    • POTASSIUM SULFITE [INCI]
    • DTXCID701028785
    • MFCD00011387
    • AKOS015915915
    • Potassium sulfite, SAJ first grade, >=95.0%
    • Q417109

  • Applications

    Potassium sulfite (CAS 10117-38-1) is used as a reducing agent and antioxidant across several industrial and processing contexts. In food processing and beverages, it serves as a source of sulfur dioxide and a preservative to control oxidation and color stability in certain markets. In pulp and paper, it participates in sulfite pulping and bleaching processes. In industrial manufacturing, it functions as a versatile reducing agent and synthetic intermediate, and in textile finishing and coatings/inks, it supports dye chemistry and formulation stability. Its use is subject to local regulations and formulation limits.

    gpt-5-nano

  • Solubility @25˚C

    Solvent Solubility (g/L)
    ethanol 332.03
    methanol 566.98
    isopropanol 280.96
    water 284.61
    ethyl acetate 85.0
    n-propanol 208.39
    acetone 322.18
    n-butanol 177.41
    acetonitrile 165.96
    DMF 1216.71
    toluene 27.47
    isobutanol 135.59
    1,4-dioxane 217.07
    methyl acetate 117.04
    THF 332.82
    2-butanone 146.16
    n-pentanol 109.2
    sec-butanol 180.93
    n-hexane 19.31
    ethylene glycol 331.9
    NMP 450.5
    cyclohexane 26.13
    DMSO 1208.36
    n-butyl acetate 42.89
    n-octanol 70.48
    chloroform 60.78
    n-propyl acetate 54.83
    acetic acid 189.35
    dichloromethane 93.53
    cyclohexanone 110.6
    propylene glycol 192.99
    isopropyl acetate 60.85
    DMAc 617.43
    2-ethoxyethanol 242.31
    isopentanol 128.54
    n-heptane 19.4
    ethyl formate 108.09
    1,2-dichloroethane 103.71
    n-hexanol 83.45
    2-methoxyethanol 551.57
    isobutyl acetate 28.8
    tetrachloromethane 23.03
    n-pentyl acetate 47.12
    transcutol 208.99
    n-heptanol 63.52
    ethylbenzene 17.54
    MIBK 79.31
    2-propoxyethanol 182.36
    tert-butanol 325.79
    MTBE 157.53
    2-butoxyethanol 116.05
    propionic acid 111.19
    o-xylene 31.9
    formic acid 321.78
    diethyl ether 180.92
    m-xylene 26.58
    p-xylene 20.76
    chlorobenzene 24.9
    dimethyl carbonate 115.03
    n-octane 11.21
    formamide 461.28
    cyclopentanone 171.97
    2-pentanone 128.35
    anisole 61.24
    cyclopentyl methyl ether 127.88
    gamma-butyrolactone 172.57
    1-methoxy-2-propanol 358.88
    pyridine 101.56
    3-pentanone 95.51
    furfural 184.2
    n-dodecane 9.35
    diethylene glycol 249.44
    diisopropyl ether 51.73
    tert-amyl alcohol 202.23
    acetylacetone 119.96
    n-hexadecane 9.73
    acetophenone 56.85
    methyl propionate 118.0
    isopentyl acetate 34.67
    trichloroethylene 84.96
    n-nonanol 63.86
    cyclohexanol 110.71
    benzyl alcohol 66.68
    2-ethylhexanol 41.51
    isooctanol 45.51
    dipropyl ether 67.76
    1,2-dichlorobenzene 26.91
    ethyl lactate 61.87
    propylene carbonate 75.77
    n-methylformamide 448.51
    2-pentanol 137.4
    n-pentane 40.13
    1-propoxy-2-propanol 120.0
    1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate 62.91
    2-(2-methoxypropoxy) propanol 98.83
    mesitylene 23.0
    ε-caprolactone 84.13
    p-cymene 18.14
    epichlorohydrin 170.31
    1,1,1-trichloroethane 44.02
    2-aminoethanol 297.08
    morpholine-4-carbaldehyde 366.35
    sulfolane 289.58
    2,2,4-trimethylpentane 13.14
    2-methyltetrahydrofuran 160.11
    n-hexyl acetate 55.69
    isooctane 11.3
    2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol 129.31
    sec-butyl acetate 33.37
    tert-butyl acetate 69.88
    decalin 8.3
    glycerin 327.5
    diglyme 213.23
    acrylic acid 124.04
    isopropyl myristate 33.48
    n-butyric acid 103.21
    acetyl acetate 47.27
    di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate 33.8
    ethyl propionate 56.05
    nitromethane 313.81
    1,2-diethoxyethane 80.31
    benzonitrile 44.75
    trioctyl phosphate 32.64
    1-bromopropane 63.75
    gamma-valerolactone 206.0
    n-decanol 52.17
    triethyl phosphate 32.46
    4-methyl-2-pentanol 70.97
    propionitrile 106.32
    vinylene carbonate 74.62
    1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane 165.19
    DMS 47.12
    cumene 16.39
    2-octanol 51.28
    2-hexanone 66.93
    octyl acetate 44.18
    limonene 28.79
    1,2-dimethoxyethane 339.46
    ethyl orthosilicate 31.5
    tributyl phosphate 31.14
    diacetone alcohol 132.43
    N,N-dimethylaniline 71.06
    acrylonitrile 135.69
    aniline 67.19
    1,3-propanediol 280.14
    bromobenzene 18.07
    dibromomethane 69.19
    1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane 87.41
    2-methyl-cyclohexyl acetate 31.84
    tetrabutyl urea 57.82
    diisobutyl methanol 35.74
    2-phenylethanol 52.83
    styrene 21.3
    dioctyl adipate 43.59
    dimethyl sulfate 199.82
    ethyl butyrate 41.47
    methyl lactate 136.28
    butyl lactate 50.41
    diethyl carbonate 31.4
    propanediol butyl ether 105.96
    triethyl orthoformate 37.11
    p-tert-butyltoluene 21.07
    methyl 4-tert-butylbenzoate 75.8
    morpholine 258.07
    tert-butylamine 192.14
    n-dodecanol 42.3
    dimethoxymethane 492.46
    ethylene carbonate 63.11
    cyrene 94.48
    2-ethoxyethyl acetate 57.86
    2-ethylhexyl acetate 27.49
    1,2,4-trichlorobenzene 31.73
    4-methylpyridine 92.06
    dibutyl ether 47.66
    2,6-dimethyl-4-heptanol 35.74
    DEF 224.15
    dimethyl isosorbide 113.09
    tetrachloroethylene 74.16
    eugenol 86.35
    triacetin 55.22
    span 80 85.04
    1,4-butanediol 130.96
    1,1-dichloroethane 68.32
    2-methyl-1-pentanol 72.95
    methyl formate 309.54
    2-methyl-1-butanol 116.11
    n-decane 13.35
    butyronitrile 90.63
    3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol 47.64
    1-chlorooctane 30.22
    1-chlorotetradecane 17.05
    n-nonane 13.32
    undecane 10.95
    tert-butylcyclohexane 8.26
    cyclooctane 12.33
    cyclopentanol 147.81
    tetrahydropyran 134.5
    tert-amyl methyl ether 124.79
    2,5,8-trioxanonane 172.8
    1-hexene 38.95
    2-isopropoxyethanol 143.24
    2,2,2-trifluoroethanol 136.64
    methyl butyrate 70.43

    Scent© AI

1 4

IFRA standard 51

Recommendation
No restriction
Maximum acceptable concentrations in the finished product (%)
Category 1
Products applied to the lips
 No restriction Category 7A
Rinse-off products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 2
Products applied to the axillae
 No restriction Category 7B
Leave-on products applied to the hair with some hand contact
 No restriction
Category 3
Products applied to the face/body using fingertips
 No restriction Category 8
Products with significant anogenital exposure
 No restriction
Category 4
Products related to fine fragrance
 No restriction Category 9
Products with body and hand exposure, primarily rinse off
 No restriction
Category 5A
Body lotion products applied to the body using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10A
Household care products with mostly hand contact
 No restriction
Category 5B
Face moisturizer products applied to the face using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 10B
Household care products with mostly hand contact, including aerosol/spray products (with potential leave-on skin contact)
 No restriction
Category 5C
Hand cream products applied to the hands using the hands (palms), primarily leave on
 No restriction Category 11A
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate without UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 5D
Baby Creams, baby Oils and baby talc
 No restriction Category 11B
Products with intended skin contact but minimal transfer of fragrance to skin from inert substrate with potential UV exposure
 No restriction
Category 6
Products with oral and lip exposure
 No restriction Category 12
Products not intended for direct skin contact, minimal or insignificant transfer to skin
 No restriction