sulfite

[ suhl-fahyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Chemistry.

a salt or ester of sulfurous acid.
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.

sulfite

/ sŭl′fīt′ /

Origin of sulfite¹

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

More than a mere trace of the precipitate proves that some sulfite was used to preserve the meat.

In the most common process the reagent is calcium sulfite, made by passing sulfur fumes (SO2) into lime water.

But the sulfite liquors of the paper mills are being worked up successfully into industrial alcohol.

A combination of ground and sulfite wood makes the paper now used for news-print.

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