Nitrous Acid (Noun)
Meaning
An unstable inorganic acid known only in solution and as nitrite salts.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Nitrous acid is a highly reactive compound that has been implicated in the formation of carcinogenic compounds in foods and beverages.
- The use of nitrous acid as a food additive has been widely criticized due to concerns over its potential health effects.
- In the laboratory, nitrous acid is often generated in situ by the reaction of sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid.
- Nitrous acid is also produced industrially through the reaction of nitric acid and sulfur dioxide.
- Nitrous acid has been used historically as a precursor to azo dyes and other nitrogen-containing compounds.