Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Sodium Nitrite
Part 4, Monographs for Reagent Chemicals: General Descriptions, Specifications, and Tests
eISBN: 9780841230460
Tom Tyner Chair, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents
James Francis Secretary, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents

ABSTRACT
This monograph for Sodium Nitrite provides, in addition to common physical constants, a general description including
typical appearance, applications, change in state (approximate), and aqueous solubility. The monograph also details
the following specifications and corresponding tests for verifying that a substance meets ACS Reagent Grade
specifications including: Assay, Insoluble Matter, Chloride, Sulfate, Heavy Metals, Iron, Calcium and Potassium.

NaNO2 Formula Wt 69.00 CAS No. 7632-00-0

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Typical appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . white or slightly yellow solid

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . reducing agent
Change in state (approximate) . . . . . . . . . . . . melting point, 271 °C; decomposes above 320 °C
Aqueous solubility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 g in 100 mL at 20 °C

SPECIFICATIONS

Assay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ≥97.0% NaNO2

Maximum Allowable
Insoluble matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01%
Chloride (Cl) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.005%
Sulfate (SO4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01%
Heavy metals (as Pb) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%
Iron (Fe) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%
Calcium (Ca) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01%
Potassium (K) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.005%

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4357
© 2017 American Chemical Society A ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4
ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

TESTS

†
For the Assay and Determination of Chloride, Sulfate, Heavy Metals, and Iron
S a m p l e S o l u t i o n A . Weigh accurately about 10.0 g, dissolve in water, and dilute with water to 100 mL in a volumetric
flask (1 mL = 0.1 g).

Assay†
(By indirect titration of reductive capacity). Dilute a 10.0 mL aliquot of sample solution A to 100 mL in a volumetric flask.
Add 5 mL of sulfuric acid to 300 mL of water, and while the solution is still warm, add 0.1 N potassium permanganate
volumetric solution until a faint pink color that persists for 2 min is produced. Then add 40.0 mL of 0.1 N potassium
permanganate, and mix gently. Add, slowly and with constant agitation, 10.0 mL of the diluted sample solution, holding the
tip of the pipette well below the surface of the liquid. Add 15.0 mL of 0.1 N ferrous ammonium sulfate volumetric solution,
allow the solution to stand for 5 min, and titrate the excess of ferrous ammonium sulfate with 0.1 N potassium
permanganate volumetric solution. Each milliliter of 0.1 N potassium permanganate consumed by the sodium nitrite
corresponds to 0.003450 g of NaNO2.

where V = mL of potassium permanganate required to titrate the excess of ferrous ammonium sulfate.

Insoluble Matter
[Part 2: Gravimetric Methods; Insoluble Matter]. Use 10 g dissolved in 100 mL of water.

Chloride†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Chloride]. To 2.0 mL of sample solution A (0.2 g sample), add 10 mL of water, slowly
add 1 mL of glacial acetic acid, and boil gently for 5 min.

Sulfate†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Sulfate; Procedure for Sulfate, Method 2]. Use 5.0 mL of sample solution A plus 1 mL
of hydrochloric acid.

Heavy Metals†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Heavy Metals (as Lead); Procedure for Heavy Metals, Method 1]. To 30 mL of sample
solution A (3 g sample), add 5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and evaporate to dryness on a steam bath. Add 5 mL of hydrochloric
acid, and again evaporate to dryness. Dissolve in about 20 mL of water, and dilute with water to 25 mL. For the control, add
0.02 mg of lead ion (Pb) to 10 mL of sample solution A (1 g sample), add 5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and treat exactly as the
30 mL of sample solution A.

Iron†
[Part 2: Colorimetry and Turbidimetry; Iron; Procedure for Iron, Method 1 (Ammonium Thiocyanate)]. To 10 mL of sample
solution A (1 g sample), add 5 mL of hydrochloric acid, and evaporate on a hot plate (~100 °C) to dryness. Dissolve the

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4357
© 2017 American Chemical Society B ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4
ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

residue in 2 mL of hydrochloric acid plus about 20 mL of water, filter if necessary, and dilute with water to 50 mL. Use the
solution without further acidification.

Calcium and Potassium

(By flame AAS, [Part 2: Trace and Ultratrace Elemental Analysis; Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy; Analysis; Procedure for
Flame AAS]).

For the Determination of Calcium and Potassium

S a m p l e S t o c k S o l u t i o n . Dissolve 10.0 g of sample with water in a 100 mL volumetric flask, and dilute to the mark
with water (1 mL = 0.10 g).

For the Determination of Calcium and Potassium

Element Wavelength (nm) Sample Wt (g) Standard Added Flame Type* Background
(mg) Correction
Ca 422.7 0.50 0.05; 0.10 N/A No
K 766.5 0.50 0.025; 0.05 A/A No
*A/A is air/acetylene; N/A is nitrous oxide/acetylene.

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4357
© 2017 American Chemical Society C ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4