sulfurous acid
noun Chemistry.
a colorless liquid, H2SO3, having a suffocating odor, obtained by dissolving sulfur dioxide in water, known mainly by its salts, which are sulfites: used chiefly in organic synthesis and as a bleach.
Origin of sulfurous acid
First recorded in 1780–90
Words nearby sulfurous acid
sulfuric acid,
sulfuric anhydride,
sulfuric ether,
sulfurize,
sulfurous,
sulfurous acid,
sulfuryl,
sulfuryl chloride,
sulfuryl group,
sulindac,
sulk
Scientific definitions for sulfurous acid
sulfurous acid
A colorless solution of sulfur dioxide in water, characterized by a suffocating sulfurous odor. It is used as a bleaching agent, preservative, and disinfectant. Chemical formula: H2SO3.