Seachem Priime is a reducing agent technically a complexed hydrosulfite salt (Sodium formaldehydebisulfite CH4O4S ) Sodium Hydrosulfite is a very strong reducing agent. A reducing agent is the opposite of an oxidant as it will reduce and or remove any oxidant such as chlorine, ozone, chlorine dioxide, just to name a few it will also remove oxygen. Other products, such as hydroxymethanesulfonate (HOCH2SO3-; a known ammonia binder can be used to treat chloraminated water because they both break down chloramine and bind up the ammonia.
The reaction of ammonia with hydroxymethanesulfonate is mechanistically complicated, possibly involving decomposition to formaldehyde and reformation to the product (aminomethanesulfonate). The simplified overall reaction is believed to be:
NH3 + HOCH2SO3- -------> H2NCH2SO3- + H2O
What ultimately happens to the aminomethanesulfonate in the aquarium is not well established Even more complicated is the reaction of hydroxymethanesulfonate with chloramine, or chlorine (as Cl2 or HOCl). In this case, the products that are formed have not been established.
, Sodium Hydrosulfite performs one of the following three roles:
1. As a reducing agent, hydrosulfite chemically reduces other components by donating an electron or electrons.
2. As a sulfonating agent, hydrosulfite adds sulfur to another chemical compound.
3. As a cation source, hydrosulfite adds a cation, or sodium, to a product system increasing the conductivity and TDS
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