Sodium dithionite, dissolved in distilled water at a concentration of 10%, has many applications in chemistry and life science. As a reducing agent, it is often a component of chemical processes, especially in biochemistry and molecular biology, where it is used to reduce disulfide bonds in proteins.

It is characterized by its strong reducing power, making it ideal for carrying out a wide range of reduction reactions. This particular suitability is based on its ability to decompose rapidly and efficiently while consuming oxygen.

Sodium dithionite is chemically a salt of dithionic acid and is characterized by its high solubility in water. In aqueous solution, it dissociates to form sodium ions and dithionite ions, which act as effective reducing agents.

The functioning of sodium dithionite is based on its chemical structure and its strong reducing power. The decomposition of the dithionite ion consumes oxygen, which leads to the reduction of other substances. This characteristic makes it a valuable reagent in chemical research and analysis.