Sodium bisulfite appears as white crystals or crystalline powder. Slight sulfurous odor. Specific gravity 1.48. Strong irritant to skin and tissue. Sodium bisulfite has been used externally for parasitic skin diseases and as gastrointestinal antiseptic.Sodium hydrogensulfite is an inorganic sodium salt having hydrogensulfite as the counterion. It has a role as a mutagen and an allergen. It is an inorganic sodium salt and a sulfite salt. It contains a hydrogensulfite.