8648. Sodium Nitrite

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7632-00-0
Nitrous acid sodium salt (1:1); erinitrit.
NNaO2; mol wt 69.00.
N 20.30%, Na 33.32%, O 46.38%.

Description and references

Contains 96-98% NaNO2. Thermodynamic properties: Plekhotkun, Zh. Prikl. Khim. 40, 1843 (1967), C.A. 68, 33797x (1968). Toxicity studies: Faccini et al., Ind. Aliment. (Pinerolo, Italy) 8, 77 (1969), C.A. 71, 100583b (1969); H. F. Smyth et al., Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J. 30, 470 (1969). Review of chemistry of NaNO2 in a biological system as related to meat curing: Bard, Townsend, Science of Meat & Meat Products, J. F. Price, B. S. Schweigert, Eds. (W. H. Freeman, 2nd ed. 1971) pp 452-470.

Properties

White or slightly yellow, hygroscopic granules, rods, or powder. Oxidizer; poisonous. Very slowly oxidizes to nitrate in air. d 2.17. mp 271°; dec above 320°. Sol in 1.5 parts cold water, 0.6 part boiling water, slightly in alc. Dec even by weak acids with evolution of brown fumes of N2O3. The aq soln is alkaline. pH ≈9. Keep well closed. LD50 orally in rats: 180 mg/kg (Smyth). Incompat: Acetanilide, antipyrine, chlorates, hypophosphites, iodides, mercury salts, permanganate, sulfites, tannic acid, vegetable astringent decoctions, infusions or tinctures.

Caution

Consult latest government regulation to determine max amounts allowable in food.

Use

Manuf diazo dyes, nitroso compds, and in many other processes of manuf of organic chemicals; dyeing and printing textile fabrics; bleaching flax, silk, and linen; photography. In meat curing, coloring and preserving; in processing smoked chub. Reducing agent in analytical chemistry.

Therapeutic Category

Vasodilator; antidote (cyanide poisoning).

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Antidote (cyanide poisoning). Has been used as a vasodilator, as a circulatory (blood pressure) depressant and to relieve smooth muscle spasm.

Keywords

Antidote (Cyanide)