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Ammonium Nitrite Formula – Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Ammonium Nitrite is a chemical compound that appears in the form of pale-yellow crystals and slowly decomposes to Nitrogen and Water and there is no odor. Most commonly used as a rodenticide, Agricultural pesticides, and preparation of Explosives. it is highly toxic to humans and aquatic animals. Ammonium Nitrite on heating will release toxic fumes of ammonia and nitrogen oxides. Ammonium nitrite consists of Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Oxygen atoms. One Nitrogen bonded with 4 Hydrogens and this structure is called ammonia and has a positive charge and another nitrogen bonded with 2 Oxygens and this structure is called Nitrite and has a negative charge. Ammonium nitrate is an ammonium salt of nitrous acid.

Ammonium Nitrite

Ammonium Nitrite is a chemical compound that contains a weak base and strong acid and has 2 Nitrogen atoms, 4 Hydrogen atoms, and 2 Oxygen atoms.  Nitrous acid on reaction with Ammonium hydroxide to form Ammonium nitrite. It will decompose at room temperature. It is stable only at low pH and high-temperature levels. It is highly unstable so we are not using this in its purest form.



Ammonium Nitrite Formula

The chemical formula for ammonium nitrite is NH4NO2. Other names are Ammonium salt of nitrous acid.



Structure of Ammonium Nitrite

Ammonium Nitrite contains 2 Nitrogen atoms, 4 Hydrogen atoms, and 2 Oxygen atoms. The chemical formula of Ammonium Nitrite is NH4NO2. The IUPAC name of Ammonium Nitrate is Azanium nitrite.

 

Physical properties of Ammonium Nitrite

Chemical properties of Ammonium Nitrite

NH4NO2 ⇢ N2 + 2H2O

Preparation of Ammonium Nitrite

2AgNO2 + NH4Cl ⇢ NH4NO2 + 2AgCl

HNO2 + NH4OH ⇢ NH4NO2 + H2O

Uses of Ammonium Nitrite

Sample Questions

Question 1: Is Ammonium Nitrite dangerous?

Answer:

Generally, Ammonium Nitrite is highly toxic to humans and as well as aquatic animals. Ammonium nitrite decomposes into Nitrogen and water at room temperature itself. At high temperatures, it will release toxic fumes of ammonia and nitrogen oxides. If the pH of Ammonium Nitrate is lowered then the 7.0 leads to an explosion.

Question 2: Why Ammonium Nitrite is not heated directly?

Answer:

Ammonium Nitrite is on direct heating causing rapid explosion dissociation of ammonium nitrite. At higher temperatures, it will release toxic fumes of Ammonia and Nitrogen oxides. So, this is the reason for Ammonium Nitrite is not heated directly.

Question 3: What happens when Ammonium Nitrite reacts with water?

Answer:

The Ammonium Nitrite is on gentle heating dissolves in water and the solution gets breakdown with the release of nitrous oxide. It is commonly called laughing gas. This can be done only in controlled and supervised conditions because it can cause asphyxiation if high fumes are inhaled.

Question 4: Is Ammonium Nitrite soluble in water?

Answer:

Ammonium Nitrite naturally occurs in air, it was prepared by oxidizing ammonia with ozone or hydrogen peroxide to form Ammonium nitrite crystals. They are soluble in water and methanol. Ammonium nitrite crystals do not have color and odor.

Question 5: Is Ammonium Nitrite ionic or covalent?

Answer:

Ammonium Nitrite consists of 2 Nitrogen atoms, 4 Hydrogen atoms, and 2 Oxygen atoms, that are soluble in water. It is a salt of Ammonium and an ionic compound. 

  • Other names are Ammonium salt of Nitrous acid.
  • IUPAC name is Azanium nitrite.

Question 6: How can you determine the Nitrite content in water?

Answer:

The Nitrite content in water is determined by Titration. The titration method used is Diazotization titration. we can do this titration procedure by using 3 reagents called Hydrochloric acid, Sulfanilamide, and N-(1-Naphthyl)ethylenediamine dichloride. The Nitrite will present in acidic nature, due to this reason the sulfanilamide undergoes diazotization in titration. A red azo pigment forms with added N-(1-Naphthyl)ethylenediamine dichloride.

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