Sodium nitrite

Sodium nitrite is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaNO₂. It is a white to slightly yellowish crystalline powder that is very soluble in water and is hygroscopic. From an industrial perspective, it is the most important nitrite salt that may be derived from the reduction of sodium nitrate but is typically manufactured by the absorption of nitrogen oxides into solutions of sodium hydroxide or sodium carbonate.

This matter is also known as erinitrit.

Properties

Molecular Formula	NaNO2 or NNaO2
Molecular Weight	68.995 g/mol
Density	2.168 g/cm3
Melting point	271 ͦ C
chemical structure

 

Applications

NaNO₂ is used as a color fixative and preservative in meats and fish. It is also slowly oxidized by oxygen in the air to NaNO₃. The compound is a strong reducing agent.

It is also used in manufacturing diazo dyes, nitroso compounds, and other organic compounds; in dyeing and printing textile fabrics and bleaching fibers; in photography; as a laboratory reagent and a corrosion inhibitor; in metal coatings for phosphatizing and detinning; and in the manufacture of rubber chemicals. This matter also has been used in human and veterinary medicine as a vasodilator, a bronchodilator, and intestinal relaxant or a laxative, and an antidote for cyanide poisoning.

Food additive

In this field, it serves a dual purpose in the food industry since it both alters the color of preserved fish and meats and also prevents the growth of Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria which causes botulism.

While this chemical will prevent the growth of bacteria, it can be toxic to mammals. For this reason, it sold as a food additive is dyed bright pink to avoid mistaking it for something else. Cooks and makers of charcuterie often simply refer to sodium nitrite as “pink salt”.

Disease treatment

Recently, Erinitrit has been found to be an effective means to increase blood flow by dilating blood vessels, acting as a vasodilator.  Research is ongoing to investigate its applicability towards treatments for sickle cell anemia, cyanide poisoning, heart attacks, brain aneurysms, and pulmonary hypertension in infants

Danger

NaNO₂ is noncombustible but will accelerate the burning of combustible material. If large quantities are involved in a fire or if the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result. If contaminated by ammonium compounds, spontaneous decomposition can occur and the resulting heat may ignite surrounding combustible material. Prolonged exposure heat may result in an explosion.

Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires involving this material. Used as a food preservative, and to make other chemicals.

At food-grade various dangers of using this as a food additive has been suggested and researched by scientists.

A principal concern is the formation of carcinogenic N-nitrosamines by the reaction of NaNO₂ with amino acids in the presence of heat in an acidic environment.

Recent studies have found a link between high processed meat consumption and colon cancer, possibly due to preservatives such as sodium nitrite.

Recent studies have also found a link between frequent ingestion of meats cured with nitrites and the COPD form of lung disease.

 

 

 

 

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/

https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

https://www.worldofmolecules.com/

https://doi.org/10.1002/0471238961.1915040902151820.a01