What Are The Products Of The Sodium Metabisulfite And Water Reaction?

The reaction between sodium metabisulfite and water produces sulfur dioxide gas, sodium hydroxide, and sodium bisulfite. The balanced chemical equation for the reaction is:

Na2S2O5 + 2H2O → 2NaHSO3 + NaOH + SO2

In this reaction, sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) reacts with water (H2O) to form sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3), sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and sulfur dioxide gas (SO2). The reaction is exothermic and usually occurs rapidly when the two substances are mixed together. The products of the reaction are commonly used in various industrial applications such as food preservation, water treatment, and paper manufacturing.