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CAS Number: 7758-09-0
EC Number: 231-832-4
E number: E249 (preservatives)
MDL number: MFCD00011408
APPLICATIONS
Potassium nitrite is used in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts.
As food additive E249, potassium nitrite is a preservative similar to sodium nitrite and is approved for usage in the EU, USA, Australia and New Zealand (where it is listed under its INS number 249).
As a colour fixative in fish products and in pickling and curing meat, sometimes in combination with sodium nitrite and with potassium and sodium nitrates.
Potassium nitrite is used in chemical analysis, as a food additive, in medications and in fertilizers.
Also, potassium nitrite is used to make other chemicals and in chemical analysis.
Potassium nitrite is used in organic synthesis because of its part in diazotization, and in detecting the presence of the amino groups in organic compounds.
Potassium nitrite is used as oxidizing agent and corrosion inhibitor in washing with hot potash for removal of Co2 from gas streams like synthesis gas.
Potassium nitrite is more soluble than sodium nitrite and does not form sparingly soluble bicarbonate in carbondioxide rich solutions.
In addition, potassium nitrite is used To make other chemicals, heat transfer salts.
Potassium nitrite is used In chemical analysis.
As a food additive (preservative), Potassium Nitrite is used in fertilizers.
Potassium nitrite is used as an antidote to cyanide poisoning.
As a vasodilator potassium nitrite is used in the medical field.
Potassium nitrite is used as an anti-scaling agent and corrosion inhibitor .
Potassium nitrite is used as a preservative in food and helps in the cleansing process by restricting the development of a harmful bacteria called botulism bacteria.
MEDICAL USES
Interest in a medical role for inorganic nitrite was first aroused because of the spectacular success of organic nitrites and related compounds in the treatment of angina pectoris.
While working with Butter at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in the 1860s, Brunton noted that the pain of angina could be lessened by venesection and wrongly concluded that the pain must be due to elevated blood pressure. As a treatment for angina, the reduction of circulating blood by venesection was inconvenient.
Therefore, he decided to try the effect on a patient of inhaling amyl nitrite, a recently synthesized compound and one that his colleague had shown lowered blood pressure in animals.
Pain associated with an anginal attack disappeared rapidly, and the effect lasted for several minutes, generally long enough for the patient to recover by resting.
For a time, amyl nitrite was the favored treatment for angina, but due to its volatility, it was replaced by chemically related compounds that had the same effect.
The effect of potassium nitrite on the nervous system, brain, spinal cord, pulse, arterial blood pressure, and respiration of healthy human volunteers was noted, as was the variability between individuals.
The most significant observation was that even a small dose of <0.5 grains (≈30 mg) given by mouth caused, at first, an increase in arterial blood pressure, followed by a moderate decrease. With larger doses, pronounced hypotension ensued. They also noted that potassium nitrite, however administered, had a profound effect on the appearance and oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
They compared the biological action of potassium nitrite with that of amyl and ethyl nitrites and concluded that the similarity of action depends on the conversion of organic nitrites to nitrous acid.
Solutions of acidified nitrite have been used successfully to generate NO and to induce vasorelaxation in isolated blood vessel studies, and the same reaction mechanism has been proposed to explain the biological action of nitrite.
DESCRIPTION
Potassium nitrite (distinct from potassium nitrate) is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula KNO2.
Potassium nitrite is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrite ions NO2−, which forms a white or slightly yellow, hygroscopic crystalline powder that is soluble in water.
Potassium Nitrite is a white to yellowish, easily dissolvable granule or rod-shaped material.
Potassium nitrite is a strong oxidizer and may accelerate the combustion of other materials.
Like other nitrite salts such as sodium nitrite, potassium nitrite is toxic if swallowed, and laboratory tests suggest that it may be mutagenic or teratogenic.
Gloves and safety glasses are usually used when handling potassium nitrite.
Potassium nitrite appears as a yellowish white crystalline solid.
Noncombustible but accelerates the burning of all combustible material.
If large quantities of Potassium nitrite are involved in fire or if the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result.
Potassium nitrite may explode under prolonged exposure to heat.
Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires.
Potassium nitrite is also known as Nitrous acid, potassium salt or as formula KNO2.
Potassium nitrite is a white/yellowish crystalline.
As a result of its oxidizing properties, potassium nitrite can be used as an oxidizer in a variety of industries.
Examples are corrosion inhibitor, reducing agent Benfield process (fertilizer production) and in glass frit for enamel glazing.
Potassium nitrite is sold as a moist crystal to help delay the onset of caking.
Some downward migration of moisture can occur in drums during storage.
Potassium nitrite is A yellowish white crystalline solid.
Potassium nitrite is Noncombustible but accelerates the burning of all combustible material.
If large quantities of Potassium nitrite are involved in fire or if the combustible material is finely divided, an explosion may result.
Potassium nitrite May explode under prolonged exposure to heat.
Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires.
Potassium nitrite belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as alkali metal nitrites.
These are inorganic compounds in which the largest oxoanion is nitrite, and in which the heaviest atom not in an oxoanion is an alkali metal.
Potassium nitrite is a drug.
Potassium nitrite represented by the chemical formula KNO2 is a yellowish white crystalline and deliquescent powder that is soluble in water, alcohol and liquid ammonia.
Potassium nitrite is a potassium salt and an ionic compound.
KNO2 is a strong oxidizer and incompatible with strong acids, strong reducing agents, cyanides, ammonium salts and combustible materials.
Potassium nitrite is a yellowish white crystalline solid or a compound formed of potassium and nitrogen, noncombustible and accelerates the burning of all combustible materials.
Potassium nitrite is produced by combining ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride.
Potassium nitrite can also be manufactured by a neutralized mixture of nitric acid and potassium hydroxide.
Potassium nitrite is used for a number of purposes like food preservation especially in cured meats such as chorizo and cured bacon.
Potassium nitrite also gives the product a desirable pinkish-red color.
The use of Potassium nitrite as a food preservative was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Potassium nitrite has a large number of end uses in the food and beverage industry, and is expected to experience good growth in the upcoming years.
DISCOVERY
Nitrite is present at trace levels in soil, natural waters, plant and animal tissues, and fertilizer.
The pure form of nitrite was first made by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele working in the laboratory of his pharmacy in the market town of Köping.
He heated potassium nitrate at red heat for half an hour and obtained what he recognized as a new “salt.”
The two compounds (potassium nitrate and nitrite) were characterized by Péligot and the reaction was established as:
2KNO3 --> 2KNO2 + O2
PRODUCTION
Potassium nitrite can be obtained by the reduction of potassium nitrate.
The production of potassium nitrite by absorption of nitrogen oxides in potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate is not employed on a large scale because of the high price of these alkalies.
Furthermore, the fact that potassium nitrite is highly soluble in water makes the solid difficult to recover.
REACTIONS
The mixing of cyanamide and KNO2 produces changes from white solids to yellow liquid and then to orange solid, forming cyanogen and ammonia gases.
No external energy is used and the reactions are carried out with a small amount of O2.
Potassium nitrite forms potassium nitrate when heated in the presence of oxygen from 550 °C to 790 °C.
The rate of reaction increases with temperature, but the extent of reaction decreases. At 550 °C and 600 °C the reaction is continuous and eventually goes to completion.
From 650 °C to 750 °C, as the case of decomposition of potassium nitrate is, the system attains equilibrium.
At 790 °C, a rapid decrease in volume is first observed, followed by a period of 15 minutes during which no volume changes occur.
This is then followed by an increase in volume due primarily to the evolution of nitrogen, which is attributed to the decomposition of potassium nitrite.
Potassium nitrite reacts at an extremely slow rate with a liquid ammonia solution of potassium amide at room temperatures, and in the presence of ferric oxide or cobaltic oxide, to form nitrogen and potassium hydroxide.
PROPERTIES
Chemical formula: KNO2
Molar mass: 85.10379 g/mol
Appearance: white or slight yellow solid
Density: 1.914986 g/cm3
Melting point: 440.02 °C (824.04 °F; 713.17 K) (decomposes)
Boiling point: 537 °C (999 °F; 810 K) (explodes)
Solubility in water: 281 g/100 mL (0 °C)
Solubility: soluble in alcohol, ammonia
Magnetic susceptibility (χ): −23.3·10−6 cm3/mol
REACTIVITY HAZARD
When reacting with acids, potassium nitrite forms toxic nitrous oxides.
Fusion with ammonium salts results in effervescence and ignition. Reactions with reducing agents can result in fires and explosions.
WORKPLACE EXPOSURE LIMITS
No occupational exposure limits have been established for Potassium Nitrite.
This does not mean that Potassium Nitrite is not harmful.
Safe work practices should always be followed.
WAYS OF REDUCING EXPOSURE
-Where possible, enclose operations and use local exhaust ventilation at the site of chemical release.
If local exhaust ventilation or enclosure is not used, respirators should be worn.
-Wear protective work clothing.
-Wash thoroughly immediately after exposure to Potassium Nitrite.
-Post hazard and warning information in the work area.
In addition, as part of an ongoing education and training effort, communicate all information on the health and safety hazards of Potassium Nitrite to potentially exposed workers.
STORAGE REQUIREMENTS
Potassium nitrite is stored with other oxidizing agents but separated from flammables, combustibles, reducing agents, acids, cyanides, ammonium compounds, amides, and other nitrogenous salts in a cool, dry, well ventilated location.
Store Potassium nitrite in Oxidizer Storage Area [Yellow Storage] with other oxidizers and away from any combustible materials.
Store Potassium nitrite in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, locked store room away from incompatible materials.
SYNONYMS
Potassium nitrite
231-832-4
7758-09-0
794654G42L
Kaliumnitrit
MFCD00011408
Nitrite de potassium
Nitrous acid potassium salt
Nitrous Acid, Potassium Salt
