Nitrous Acid(HNO2)

What is Nitrous Acid?

Nitrous acid is unstable and weakly acidic compound. It exists in the solution
of nitrate salts only. Nitrous acid is a mixture of nitric acid and nitrous gas but
with a smaller proportion of oxygen than what exists in nitric acid. Nitrous
acid was discovered by Scheele. It is obtained by distilling perfectly dry nitrate
of lead in a retort, fitted with a receiver. A liquid comes over which is nitrous
acid.
Nitrous Acid Structure – HNO2

Physical Properties of Nitrous Acid – HNO2

Chemical Properties of Nitrous Acid – HNO2
• It is strongly acidic, extremely volatile and rises in thick fumes; boils at
the low temperature of 82oC and the specific gravity is 1.45
• In vapour state, nitrous acid remains unchanged by the action of heat,
but when mixed with water an effervescence takes place with the
evolution of nitrous gas.
• Nitrous acid in its fuming state is totally irrespirable but supports
the combustion of phosphorus or charcoal, when these are introduced
into it in a state of combustion.

Uses of Nitrous Acid – HNO2

• Used in the preparation of diazonium salts from amines and in the
preparation of azo dyes in sandmeyer reaction.
• Used to remove the toxic nature in potentially explosive compound
sodium azide.
• Nitrous acid is also used as an oxidizer in liquid fuel rockets.

Effects of nitrous acid exposure on human

mucous membranes

Nitrous acid (HONO) is formed both indirectly from the reaction of nitrogen dioxide
(NO2) with water on indoor surfaces, and directly during combustion. This gaseous
pollutant may be a previously unrecognized causal factor in assessments of nitrogen
oxide exposure effects. The present study is the first attempt to evaluate exposure
effects of HONO on the human airways and the mucous membranes of the eyes and
nose. Fifteen healthy adult nonsmokers were exposed for 3.5 h in a double-blind,
balanced protocol to clean air, 77, and 395 ppb HONO. Each exposure was preceded by
a 1-h baseline measurement period, and exposures were separated by 1 wk. There was a
10-min exercise period during exposure. Effects measurements included assessment of
bronchial reactivity, measurement of specific airway conductance, spirometry, acoustic
rhinometry, nasal lavage, tear-fluid cytology, a CO2 eye-provocation test, evaluation of
eye redness, and subjective sensations. Effects of HONO exposure on the eyes were
found as exposure-related changes in tear-fluid cytology. In particular, the number of
squamous cells increased by 20, 67, and 80% following exposure to clean air, 77, and
395 ppb HONO, respectively (p = 0.004). Possible indications of exposure effects on
sensitivity to CO2 eye provocation and on specific airway conductance were also
measured. For specific airway conductance there was an approximate 10% decrease in
conductance following exercise in association with HONO exposure, compared with a
2% decrease with clean air (p = 0.038).

Harmful effects of atmospheric nitrous acid

on the physiological status of Scots pine
trees
An open top chamber experiment was carried out in the summer of 2003 to examine the
effect of nitrous acid (HONO) gas on the physiological status of Scots pine saplings
(Pinus sylvestris). Four-year-old pine trees were exposed to two different levels of
HONO gas (at ca. 2.5 ppb and 5.0 ppb) and a control (filtered air) from early evening to
early morning (18:00–6:00), in duplicate open top chambers. Significant decreases in
the ratios of chlorophylls a to b, an increase in the carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, and a
reduction of maximum yield of PS II (Fv/Fm) in pine needles were also observed after the
2 months' fumigation. Cation contents of pine needles were also decreased by the
fumigation with HONO gas. The results could be explained by the harmful effects of OH
radicals, generated from photolysis of HONO gas, and/or aqueous phase HONO
(NO2−/HONO), on the photosynthetic capacity of pine needles.

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