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Nitrite is an anionic chemical compound that comprises one atom of nitrogen and two atoms of oxygen. Nitrites are produced by mixing nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide in an alkaline solution. They are generally used by meat market owners to preserve meat. In meat, nitrites become nitric oxide that reacts with it and changes its color. This is the reason why meat becomes pink or red. Let’s have a look at some of the important characteristics and uses of nitrite in detail.
Chemical Representation of Nitrite
The chemical representation of nitrite is NO-2. Nitrites are ambident nucleophiles. Nucleophiles belong to a chemical category that provides electrons to form a new covalent bond. Furthermore, ambident nucleophiles are the kinds of nucleophiles that provide two electrons to form a bond.
The chemical structure of nitrite is as follows:
Properties of Nitrite
- Nitrites are found in the human body.
- They can travel from the digestive system into the blood, then to saliva, and finally again to the digestive system. This flow is called entero-salivary circulation.
- It is a colorless liquid or crystalline solid.
Following are the properties of nitrites:
| Molecular formula | NO-2 |
|---|---|
| Molecular Weight | 46.006 g/mol |
| Synonym | Nitrous acid |
| Physical Characteristics | Colorless solution or crystalline solids |
| Bond angle | 115o |
Uses of Nitrite
There are various uses of nitrites in our daily life. Following are some of the uses of nitrite:
- It is used as a preservative by meat producers
- It is used in the treatment of cardiac-related ailments
- Nitrites, when made to react with amines, form diazonium salt. The diazonium salts are used in manufacturing dyes.
- It is also found in our digestive system, thereby killing harmful microbes like Salmonella
Difference between Nitrite and Nitrate
| Nitrite | Nitrate |
|---|---|
| The chemical structure of nitrite consists of one atom of nitrogen linked with two atoms of oxygen. | The chemical structure of nitrate consists of one atom of nitrogen linked with three atoms of oxygen. |
| The oxidation number of nitrogen is +3 | The oxidation number of nitrogen is +5 |
| Nitrites are oxidized to form nitrates | Nitrates are reduced to form nitrites |
| The conjugate acid is nitrous acid | The conjucate acid is nitric acid |
| Nitrous acid is a weak acid | Nitric acid is a strong acid |
| The geometrical structure is bent molecular | The geometrical structure is trigonal planar |
| Generally used in the meat industry for meat curing and preservation purpose | Generally used in fertilizers and explosives. |
Things to Remember Based on Nitrite
- Nitrite is also called nitrous acid.
- Nitrite consists of one atom of nitrogen linked with two atoms of oxygen.
- Nitrite finds its particular usage in meat markets as meat preservers.
- Nitrites are found in the human body. The pathway of their circulation within the human body is entero-salivary circulation.
Important Questions Based on Nitrite
Ques: How many hydroxyl groups are present around nitrogen in hyponitrous acid? (1 Mark)
Ans: The number of hydroxyl groups that are present around nitrogen in hyponitrous acid is 1.
Ques: Why is the aqueous solution of nitrous acid pale blue? (1 Mark)
Ans: The aqueous solution of nitrous acid is pale blue due to the presence of dinitrogen trioxide (N2O3).
Ques: Where are nitrites present in the environment? (1 Mark)
Ans: Nitrites are generally present in water, plants and soil. Furthermore, nitrites are also present in volcanic rocks.
Ques: Describe the ion of nitrite. (2 Marks)
Ans: Nitrites are anions. Anions are those ions that are negatively charged. The chemical composition of nitrite consists of a single atom of nitrogen linked to two atoms of oxygen. Since both oxygen and nitrogen atoms carry a lone pair of electrons, the nitrite ion is called Lewis base.
Ques: When ethylamine reacts with nitrous acid, what does it form? (2 Marks)
Ans: When ethylamine reacts with nitrous acid, ethanol and nitrogen are formed. Following is the chemical reaction of ethylamine and nitrous acid:
C2H5NH2 + HNO2 → C2H5OH +N2+ H2O
Ques: What happens when nitrous oxide and potassium dichromate react? (2 Marks)
Ans: When nitrous oxide and potassium dichromate are involved in a chemical reaction, the resultant product is green in color due to the presence of Cr3+
In acidic solution, nitrous oxide (N2O) reacts with potassium chromate (K2CrO4) to form Cr3+ (aq) and nitric oxide (NO), as products.
Ques: Describe the structure of nitrite. (2 Marks)
Ans: The nitrite has a bond angle of 115o. The nitrogen and oxygen atoms in nitrite form a bond having uniform length thereby, making the structure of nitrite symmetric.
Ques: What is the difference between nitrite and nitrate? (3 Marks)
Ans: Differences between nitrite and nitrate are given below:
- The chemical formula for nitrate is NO3 whereas, the chemical formula for nitrite is NO2.
- Nitrate is a strong acid whereas nitrite is a weak acid.
- Nitrate is also called nitric acid whereas nitrite is called nitrous acid.
- The oxidation number of nitrogen in nitrate is +5, whereas, for nitrite, it is +3.
- Nitrate is generally used in fertilizers and explosives, whereas; nitrite is generally used in the preservation of meat.
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