[neverbored307]

I will try my best to keep this short.  I recently graduated with a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering but I am now working on a sulfur dioxide emissions control process intended for field use in the oil industry.  So I do have some chemistry education background, though not as extensive as a Chemistry or Chemical Engineering major would have.  I am not positive this sub-forum is the best location for my question, but I feel like the chemistry involved here is at an undergraduate level. 

For this process, we are taking sulfur dioxide gas and converting it to an aqueous solution of "sulfurous acid".  I understand that in reality, sulfurous acid does not exist in aqueous solutions, and that really what is happening is hydrated sulfur dioxide molecules are forming hydrogen sulfite ions directly.  SO₂ + 2H₂O  H₃O⁺ + HSO₃^-.  The water we are using is essentially seawater with a salinity of roughly 3.5% and this water has a temperature of roughly 40°C.

My question is, since the water contains Na⁺ and Cl^- ions, do the sodium ions react or combine with the hydrogen sulfite ions to produce sodium bisulfite (NaHSO₃)?

It is my understanding that a relatively similar reaction, involving solid sodium chloride and sulfuric acid produces sodium bisulfate via the Mannheim Process.  From the research I have done though, the NaCl is in the solid phase rather than the aqueous phase, and the Mannheim process requires very concentrated sulfuric acid in addition to a large amount of heat in order to produce sodium bisulfate. 

I have a few follow up questions as well, but I will hold off on those.  I really appreciate any input/help on this subject, I have spent a fair amount of time trying to answer this question on my own but I am having trouble finding information elsewhere.  Thanks!

[Borek]

When you have a solution containing many ions, it is never possible to say what was used to prepare it. So your solution will contain ions Na⁺ and HSO₃^-, but it is not equivalent to the statement "contains NaHSO₃".

Whether something precipitates or not depends on the solubility. NaHSO₃ is highly soluble.

[neverbored307]

Thanks Borek, looking through the posts on this website it is admirable how helpful you are on here.

I have some follow up questions I will post them in a few days.  Feeling grateful to have found this community - Cheers!