Disodium

/daɪˈsoʊdiəm/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound containing two atoms of sodium, or sodium that has had one atom removed.

Etymology

From dis- (two or double) + sodium. In chemistry nomenclature, dis- can indicate two atoms (as in disulfide), or in this case, removal of sodium.

Kelly Says

Disodium phosphate and disodium EDTA are common food additives and cleaning compounds—you'll find these names on ingredient lists. What's clever is that 'disodium' tells chemists exactly how many sodium atoms are in the molecule, making it precise but potentially confusing to consumers who see these on labels.

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