Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2009-03-27 00:58:25 UTC
Update Date2026-04-05 18:12:51 UTC
Accession NumberCHEM000659
Identification
Common NameZinc dithionite
ClassSmall Molecule
DescriptionZinc dithionite is a food contaminant arising from its use as a packaging additive Zinc dithionite belongs to the family of Transition Metal Dithionites. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest oxoanion is dithionite, and in which the heaviest atom not in an oxoanion is a transition metal.
Contaminant Sources
  • Clean Air Act Chemicals
  • EAFUS Chemicals
  • FooDB Chemicals
  • HPV EPA Chemicals
  • T3DB toxins
Contaminant Type
  • Food Toxin
  • Industrial/Workplace Toxin
  • Inorganic Compound
  • Metabolite
  • Synthetic Compound
  • Zinc Compound
Chemical Structure
Thumb
Synonyms
ValueSource
[(HO)(O)SS(O)(OH)]ChEBI
Dithionige saeureChEBI
H2S2O4ChEBI
Hypodisulfurous acidChEBI
Hypodisulphurous acidGenerator
Chemical FormulaO4S2Zn
Average Molecular Mass193.537 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass191.853 g/mol
CAS Registry Number7779-86-4
IUPAC Namesulfinosulfinic acid
Traditional Namedithionous acid
SMILES[Zn++].[O-]S(=O)S([O-])=O
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/H2O4S2.Zn/c1-5(2)6(3)4;/h(H,1,2)(H,3,4);/q;+2/p-2
InChI KeyPENRVBJTRIYHOA-UHFFFAOYSA-L
Chemical Taxonomy
Description belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as non-metal dithionites. These are inorganic non-metallic compounds containing a dithionite as its largest oxoanion.
KingdomInorganic compounds
Super ClassHomogeneous non-metal compounds
ClassNon-metal oxoanionic compounds
Sub ClassNon-metal dithionites
Direct ParentNon-metal dithionites
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Non-metal dithionite
  • Inorganic oxide
Molecular FrameworkNot Available
External Descriptors
Biological Properties
StatusDetected and Not Quantified
OriginExogenous
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
Biofluid LocationsNot Available
Tissue LocationsNot Available
PathwaysNot Available
ApplicationsNot Available
Biological RolesNot Available
Chemical RolesNot Available
Physical Properties
StateSolid
AppearanceWhite powder.
Experimental Properties
PropertyValue
Melting PointNot Available
Boiling PointNot Available
SolubilityNot Available
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
logP-1.5ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Acidic)1.7ChemAxon
Physiological Charge-2ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count4ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count2ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area74.6 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count1ChemAxon
Refractivity19.53 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability9 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings0ChemAxon
Bioavailability1ChemAxon
Rule of FiveYesChemAxon
Ghose FilterNoChemAxon
Veber's RuleNoChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleNoChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Spectrum TypeDescriptionSplash KeyView
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-03fr-9600000000-81ec26324370d2795acaSpectrum
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, PositiveNot AvailableSpectrum
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, PositiveNot AvailableSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-001i-0900000000-68c9dcf59fad2d02e586Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-03e9-2900000000-547773e64f06719ae885Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-02ai-9600000000-45b5412bb8945294c3e9Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-01t9-5900000000-d84d2bd76ffc92df9910Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-03di-9000000000-b6fca4dab9adcb67e53aSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-03di-9300000000-557b9897a6c680d04027Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-001i-0900000000-6ea3bc7ff381ff12b112Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-03di-9000000000-2c4a3db8921d94d7f526Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-03di-9000000000-2c4a3db8921d94d7f526Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Negativesplash10-03di-9000000000-27b1e0396a4123b0408fSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Negativesplash10-03di-9000000000-27b1e0396a4123b0408fSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Negativesplash10-03di-9000000000-27b1e0396a4123b0408fSpectrum
Toxicity Profile
Route of ExposureInhalation (3) ; oral (3) ; dermal (3)
Mechanism of ToxicityAnaemia results from the excessive absorption of zinc suppressing copper and iron absorption, most likely through competitive binding of intestinal mucosal cells. Unbalanced levels of copper and zinc binding to Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase has been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Stomach acid dissolves metallic zinc to give corrosive zinc chloride, which can cause damage to the stomach lining. Metal fume fever is thought to be an immune response to inhaled zinc. (2, 3, 1)
MetabolismZinc can enter the body through the lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal absorption of zinc is controlled by zinc carrier protein CRIP. Zinc also binds to metallothioneins, which help prevent absorption of excess zinc. Zinc is widely distributed and found in all tissues and tissues fluids, concentrating in the liver, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, skin, lung, brain, heart, and pancreas. In the bloodstream zinc is found bound to carbonic anhydrase in erythrocytes, as well as bound to albumin, _2-macroglobulin, and amino acids in the the plasma. Albumin and amino acid bound zinc can diffuse across tissue membranes. Zinc is excreted in the urine and faeces. (3)
Toxicity ValuesNot Available
Lethal DoseNot Available
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)No indication of carcinogenicity to humans (not listed by IARC).
Uses/SourcesNot Available
Minimum Risk LevelIntermediate Oral: 0.3 mg/kg/day (5) Chronic Oral: 0.3 mg/kg/day (5)
Health EffectsChronic exposure to zinc causes anemia, atazia, lethargy, and decreases the level of good cholesterol in the body. It is also believed to cause pancreatic and reproductive damage. (3)
SymptomsIngestion of large doses of zinc causes stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Acute inhalation of large amounts of zinc causes metal fume fever, which is characterized by chills, fever, headache, weakness, dryness of the nose and throat, chest pain, and coughing. Dermal contact with zinc results in skin irritation. (3)
TreatmentZinc poisoning is treated symptomatically, often by administering fluids such as water or milk, or with gastric lavage. (3)
Concentrations
Not Available
DrugBank IDNot Available
HMDB IDHMDB0034906
FooDB IDNot Available
Phenol Explorer IDNot Available
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
BiGG IDNot Available
BioCyc IDNot Available
METLIN IDNot Available
PDB IDNot Available
Wikipedia LinkDithionous acid
Chemspider ID22898
ChEBI ID29253
PubChem Compound ID24490
Kegg Compound IDNot Available
YMDB IDNot Available
ECMDB IDNot Available
References
Synthesis ReferenceNot Available
MSDSNot Available
General References
1. Yannai, Shmuel. (2004) Dictionary of food compounds with CD-ROM: Additives, flavors, and ingredients. Boca Raton: Chapman & Hall/CRC.