Sulfites (also sulphite) are compounds that contain the sulfite ion SO₃²⁻. They are often used as preservatives in wines (to prevent spoilage and oxidation), dried fruits, and dried potato products. Sulfites also occur naturally in almost all wines. A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... A space-filling model of the sulfite anion Sulfites (also sulphite) are compounds that contain the sulfite ion SO32−. They are often used as preservatives in wines (to prevent spoilage and oxidation), dried fruits, and dried potato products. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... A preservative is a natural or synthetic chemical that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, etc. ... A glass of red wine This article is about the alcoholic beverage. ... The most fundamental reactions in chemistry are the redox processes. ... For other uses, see Fruit (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Solanum tuberosum L. The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial plant of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, commonly grown for its starchy tuber. ...

A space-filling model of the sulfite anion.

The structure of the sulfite anion

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1100x991, 162 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sulfite ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1100x991, 162 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sulfite ... This is a calotte model of cyclohexane. ... “Multivalent” redirects here. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1100x575, 56 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sulfite ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1100x575, 56 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sulfite ...

Chemical properties

SO₃²⁻ is a polyatomic oxoanion. General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... An electrostatic potential map of the nitrate ion (NO3−). Areas coloured red are lower in energy than areas coloured yellow A polyatomic ion is an ion consisting of a molecule with covalently bonded atoms or of a metal complex that can be considered as acting as a single unit in... An oxyanion or oxoanion is a negatively charged polyatomic ion that contains oxygen. ...

Related sulfur oxoanions

• SO₅²⁻ persulfate ion
• SO₄²⁻ sulfate ion
• SO₃²⁻ sulfite ion
• SO₂²⁻ hyposulfite

General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... A space-filling model of the peroxomonosulfate anion The structure of the peroxomonosulfate anion The peroxomonosulfate ion, SO52−, is a sulfur oxoanion. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... In inorganic chemistry, a sulfate (IUPAC-recommended spelling; also sulphate in British English) is a salt of sulfuric acid. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... General Name, Symbol, Number sulfur, S, 16 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 16, 3, p Appearance lemon yellow Standard atomic weight 32. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance colorless (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Standard atomic weight 15. ... SO22− hyposulfite ion Hyposulfite, SO22−, is a polyatomic ion, in which more than one atom are bonded together to form a charged species, which most often is treated as, in effect, a charged molecule. ...

Health risks

Some animals are allergic to sulfites, and may have difficulty breathing within minutes of eating a food containing sulfites. Asthmatics and people with allergies to aspirin (also know as salicylate sensitivity) are at an elevated risk for reaction to sulfites. The reaction can be fatal and requires immediate treatment at an emergency room, and can include sneezing, swelling of the throat, and hives. Those who are allergic to sulfites are urged to avoid products that could contain them. Asthma is a chronic disease of the respiratory system in which the airway occasionally constricts, becomes inflamed, and is lined with excessive amounts of mucus, often in response to one or more triggers. ... Aspirin or acetylsalicylic acid (acetosal) is a drug in the family of salicylates, often used as an analgesic (against minor pains and aches), antipyretic (against fever), and anti-inflammatory. ... Salicylate sensitivity, also known as salicylate intolerance, is a chemical reaction that occurs when too much salicylate (salicylic acid) is introduced into a persons system. ... A sneeze is the semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the nose. ... Look up Throat in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Urticaria or Hives is a relatively common form of allergic reaction that causes. ...

See also: anaphylaxis

}} In medicine, anaphylaxis is a severe and rapid multi-system allergic reaction. ...

Regulation of commercial use

Sulfites occur naturally in wine. They are also added to wine. In the US, wine bottled after mid-1987 must have a label stating that they contain sulfites if they contain more than 10 parts per million. In the EU an equivalent regulation came into force in November 2005 [1]. Organic wines are not necessarily sulfite-free but they have no added sulfites. Most beers no longer contain sulfites. Although shrimp is sometimes treated with sulfites on fishing vessels, the chemical may not appear on the label. In 1985, the United States federal government banned the addition of sulfites to most fresh fruits and vegetables, though fresh-cut potatoes and dried fruits are exceptions. Motto: (Out Of Many, One) (traditional) In God We Trust (1956 to date) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington D.C. Largest city New York City None at federal level (English de facto) Government Federal constitutional republic  - President George Walker Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence from... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... An organically-grown apple. ... Beer in the glass Schlenkerla Rauchbier direct from the cask Beer is the worlds oldest[1] and most popular[2] alcoholic beverage; a beverage, it has been argued, which is responsible for humanitys ability to develop technology and build civilisation[3][4][5][6]. It is produced by... Superfamilies Alpheoidea Atyoidea Bresilioidea Campylonotoidea Crangonoidea Galatheacaridoidea Nematocarcinoidea Oplophoroidea Palaemonoidea Pandaloidea Pasiphaeoidea Procaridoidea Processoidea Psalidopodoidea Stylodactyloidea True shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Category:Sulfites for a list of sulfites.

External links

• Sulphites in wine at morethanorganic.com
• Food allergies rare but risky (Food and Drug Administration)
• Is there any danger from sulfites in wine? (The Straight Dope)
• Sulfite Sensitivity (about.com)