Ammonium nitrite

Ammonium nitrite is an unstable inorganic salt, NH₄NO₂, that decomposes into nitrogen gas and water.

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Ammonium nitrite decomposition: The reaction in which ammonium nitrite forms nitrogen gas and water. This is the salt’s defining transformation: NH₄NO₂ → N₂ + 2H₂O.
Ionic compound: A substance composed of positively and negatively charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction. Ammonium nitrite pairs a polyatomic cation with a polyatomic anion.
Chemical synthesis: The deliberate production of chemical compounds through chemical reactions. Ammonium nitrite is chiefly encountered as a prepared intermediate rather than a persistent material.
Ammonium nitrate: An ionic compound, NH₄NO₃, composed of ammonium and nitrate ions. Replacing nitrite with nitrate gives a different, more commonly handled ammonium salt.
Nitrogen: A chemical element with atomic number 7, occurring as a colorless diatomic gas in Earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen gas is the principal gaseous product of ammonium nitrite decomposition.
Ammonia: A nitrogen hydride with formula NH₃ that acts as a weak base in water. Protonation of ammonia produces the ammonium ion in the salt.
In situ generation: Formation of a substance within the reaction mixture where it will be used. Generating ammonium nitrite in solution avoids relying on storage of the unstable salt.
Sodium nitrite: An ionic compound, NaNO₂, composed of sodium and nitrite ions. It shares the nitrite anion but lacks ammonium’s reducing nitrogen.
Redox reaction: A chemical reaction involving electron transfer and changes in oxidation state. Nitrogen changes oxidation state as ammonium and nitrite yield elemental nitrogen.
Nitrous acid: An unstable oxyacid of nitrogen with formula HNO₂. Nitrite is the conjugate base associated with nitrous acid.