Potassium Metabisulfite

AKA “16731-55-8, Potassium disulfite, Dipotassium pyrosulfite, Dipotassium disulfite, Sobisu, Dipotassium metabisulfite, potassium metabisulphite, Potassium disulfite (K2S2O5), Potassium pentaoxodisulfate”

Preservative

Ingredient Facts

Potassium metabisulfite

AKA: 16731-55-8, Potassium disulfite, Dipotassium pyrosulfite, Dipotassium disulfite, Sobisu, Dipotassium metabisulfite, Potassium metabisulphite, Potassium disulfite (K2S2O5), Potassium pentaoxodisulfate

Preservative · Preservative · EWG: 4

Synthetic

Preservative

Medicated Active

Not Clean

Potassium metabisulfite appears as a white granular or powdery solid with a sharp odor of sulfur dioxide. Decomposes at 150 to 190 °C. Density 2.3 g / cm3. Contact severely irritates skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Low toxicity. Used as a food preservative and an antioxidant.

Solubility Freely soluble in water; insoluble in alcohol

Formula

K2O5S2

Mol. Weight

222.33

CAS #

16731-55-8, 4429-42-9

Form

Powder

State

See origin →

Functions

Hair Waving Or Straightening

Preservative

Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.

Reducing

Neutralizes Free Radicals

Traditional Use

Developed as a chemical preservative and antioxidant in the 19th century, widely adopted in cosmetics and food preservation to prevent oxidation and microbial growth.