Nitrite
Nitrite
An intermediate stage in the process of nitrification. 2. Nitrous oxide salts used in food preservationNitrogen Dioxide (NO2) The result of nitric oxide combining with oxygen in the atmosphere major component of photochemical smog
The nitrite ion has the chemical formula NO2−. The anion is symmetric with equal N-O bond lengths and a O-N-O bond angle of about 120°. On protonation the unstable weak acid nitrous acid is produced. Nitrite can be oxidized or reduced, with product somewhat dependent on the oxidizing/reducing agent. The nitrite ion is an ambidentate ligand and is known to bond to metal centers in at least five different ways.[1] Nitrite is important in biochemistry as a source of the vasodilator nitric oxide. Nitrites are used for curing meat. In organic chemistry the NO2 group is present in nitrous acid esters and nitro compounds.