Definition

A chemical compound that contains the bisulfite ion, which is derived from sulfurous acid and has the formula HSO3.

Example

The bisulfite solution is often used in food preservation.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of bisulfite?

Yeah, I think it's used in some chemical processes, right?

Exactly! I read that it's a salt of sulfurous acid.

That sounds interesting; I didn't know it had such specific uses.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Bisulfite → It is formed from "bi-" (meaning two) and "sulfite" (from Latin "sulfur" meaning sulfur and the suffix "-ite" used in chemistry to denote a salt or ester of an acid). The word "bisulfite" refers to a salt containing two sulfur atoms in its structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'bi-' meaning two, and 'sulfite' relating to sulfur — this helps you remember that bisulfite is a compound containing two sulfur components.

Visually Confused Words