Sodium Thiosulfate

DESCRIPTION

Sodium Thiosulfate is a water soluble salt and reducing agent that reacts with oxidizing agents. Although its exact mechanism of action is unknown, thiosulfate likely provides an exogenous source of sulfur, thereby hastening the detoxification of cyanide through the enzyme rhodanese (thiosulfate cyanide sulfurtransferase) which converts cyanide to the relatively nontoxic, excretable thiocyanate ion. In addition, this agent neutralizes the reactive alkylating species of nitrogen mustard, thereby decreasing skin toxicity related to nitrogen mustard extravasation. A chemical compound with the property of making silver salts water-soluble. It is also used in conservation practice as a cleaning agent for silver and silver-gilt surfaces, and removing silver chloride from wet-washed paper and wet-washed textiles.