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Nitrous Acid

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nitrous acid
a weak monobasic acid known only in solution and in the form of nitrite salts. Formula: HNO2
nitrous acid [′nī·trəs ′as·əd]
(inorganic chemistry)
HNO2Aqueous solution of nitrogen trioxide, N2O3.
Nitrous Acid 

(HNO2) a monoprotic, unstable, and quite weak acid; it exists only in dilute cold water solutions. Its structural formula is HO—N=0. Its dissociation constant is 4.5 x 10-4 at 18°C. It forms along with nitric acid when N02 is dissolved in water:

2N02 + H20 = HN02 + HN03

Upon heating and the action of strong acids or oxidizers, nitrous acid dissociates with the formation of nitric oxide:

3HN02 = HNO3 + 2NO + H20

The compounds N20, NO, NH2OH, NH3, and others may be obtained by the reduction of nitrous acid. The salts of nitrous acid (nitrates) are obtained by the reduction of nitrates.

The most important property of nitrous acid is its ability to diazotize aromatic amines. For this reason, sodium nitrate (NaN02) is widely used in the production of azo dyes; free nitrous acid is produced upon the action of acids on this salt:

NaN02 + HCl = NaCl + HN02

Nitrous acid and its salts are poisonous if ingested. Poisoning of professionals is rare. Sodium nitrite is used in medicine in cases of cardiac angina and spasms of the vessels of the cerebrum.
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The nitrous acid from the nitrite combines with the hemoglobin in the blood of the meat, fixing its red color so that the meat does not turn the tired brown or gray natural to cured meat.
Cancer for Many - Profits for A Few by Alphonso Smith / Food/cooking/nutrition community
Mixtures of nitric and nitrous acids in organic solvents and mixtures of nitrous acid in aqueous sulfuric acid can also oxidize methyl ketone.
The technologic research for the synthesis of ... by Jiang, Yuren; Liu, Zuozhou; Liao, Liting / International Journal of Applied Chemistry
In the acidic stomach, the nitrite is rapidly converted to nitrous acid and then to nitric oxide and nitrosating species, which can react with amines and amides to form N-nitroso compounds (NOC), the potential causative agents in the etiology of specific cancers, adverse reproductive outcomes, and diabetes.
Dietary nitrate: Ward et al. respond by Nolan, Bernard T. / Environmental Health Perspectives
 
 
 
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