In laboratory settings, sodium metabisulphite is employed for several purposes due to its chemical properties:
- Reducing Agent: It is used as a reducing agent in chemical analysis and synthesis, particularly in redox titrations and the reduction of certain metals and dyes.
- Preservative: Sodium metabisulphite helps preserve solutions and biological samples by preventing oxidation and microbial growth.
- Antioxidant: It serves as an antioxidant to protect solutions from oxidation, which can be crucial in maintaining the stability of sensitive compounds.
- Dechlorination: It is used to neutralize chlorine in water samples before analysis, ensuring accurate measurements by removing chlorine’s potential interference.
- Photographic Industry: In the development of photographic films, sodium metabisulphite is used as a component of certain developer solutions.
- Cleaning Agent: It helps clean laboratory equipment, particularly glassware, by breaking down and removing organic residues and stains.
- Stabilizing Agent: Sodium metabisulphite can stabilize solutions that are prone to oxidation, helping maintain their integrity during storage and analysis.
- pH Adjustment: It can be used to adjust the pH of solutions, particularly in maintaining acidic conditions needed for certain reactions and processes.