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Ammonium nitrite

physical science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Ammonium nitrite is a special chemical compound. It is made of two parts. One part is called an ammonium cation. The other part is a nitrite anion. This stuff is very unstable. That means it breaks apart very easily. It can break apart even at room temperature. When it breaks, it turns into water and nitrogen. This nitrogen is a gas in the air.

Scientists can make it in many ways. It can form naturally in the air. You can also make it with ozone. Ozone is a gas. You can also use hydrogen peroxide to make it. It forms clear crystals. These crystals can dissolve in water.

This compound can be dangerous. It may explode if it gets hot. It can explode at 60 to 70 degrees Celsius. It can also explode if it gets too sour. In science, we call this a low pH. You can keep it safe by adding ammonia. This keeps the pH at a safe level. You must keep the ammonia ratio above 10%.

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