The
nitrite ion is NO
2-. The anion is bent, being
isoelectronic with
O3. More generally, a
nitrite compound is either a
salt or an
ester of
nitrous acid.
See category for a bigger list.
In inorganic chemistry, nitrites are salts of nitrous acid (HNO2). They contain the nitrite ion (NO2-). Nitrites of the alkali and alkaline earth metals can be synthesized by reacting a mixture of nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) with a corresponding metal hydroxide solution, as well as through the thermal decomposition of the corresponding nitrate. Other nitrites are available through the reduction of the corresponding nitrates.
Nitrite is detected and analyzed by the Griess Reaction, involving the formation of a deep red-colored azo dye upon treatment of a NO2--containing sample with sulfanilic acid and naphthyl-1-amine in the presence of acid.[1]
