What is Sodium Nitrite

Many of the clothes we wear and the foods we eat contain chemical ingredients. Among these chemical ingredients, there is one that can be used as a bleaching agent for clothing fabrics and as a colorant in meat products. It is sodium nitrite. Sodium nitrite actually has another name that we are all familiar with, which is industrial salt.

Sodium nitrite is now widely used in my country, but if it is used as a food additive, it will cause serious harm to the human body. However, many manufacturers still use sodium nitrite as industrial salt due to cost issues. Specifically speaking, what is sodium nitrite? This article will provide you with a detailed analysis.

Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is an inorganic salt formed by the reaction of nitrite ions and sodium ions. Sodium nitrite is deliquescent and easily soluble in water and liquid ammonia. Its aqueous solution is alkaline with a pH of about 9. It is slightly soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, methanol, and ether. Sodium nitrite has a salty taste and is used to make fake salt. Sodium nitrite reacts with oxygen when exposed to air to form sodium nitrate. If heated to above 320°C, it decomposes to produce oxygen, nitrogen oxide and sodium oxide. It may burn or explode if in contact with organic matter. Because of its salty taste and low price, it is often used as an unreasonable substitute for table salt in illegal food production. Because sodium nitrite is toxic, foods containing industrial salt are very harmful to the human body and are carcinogenic.

The uses and hazards of sodium nitrite

Antimicrobial agent, preservative. It is used in bleaching, electroplating and metal processing, and is called industrial salt.

Pharmacology

It can convert hemoglobin into methemoglobin. Its detoxification process for cyanide is the same as that of methylene blue, but its effect is stronger than that of methylene blue. Suitable for rescue of cyanide poisoning.

harm

Because of its salty taste and low price, it is often used as an unreasonable substitute for table salt in illegal food production. Because sodium nitrite is toxic, foods containing industrial salt are very harmful to the human body.

Hazard Category

Health hazards: The toxic effects are paralysis of the vasomotor center, respiratory center and peripheral blood vessels; formation of methemoglobin. Symptoms of acute poisoning include general weakness, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, chest tightness and difficulty breathing; examination reveals obvious cyanosis of the skin and mucous membranes. In severe cases, blood pressure drops, coma occurs, and death occurs. Contact with the skin of workers' hands and feet may cause damage.

Now that we know what sodium nitrite is, we also understand how harmful it is to the human body. Therefore, we recommend that if you find that the added ingredients of food contain sodium nitrite when you buy it, you must not buy and eat it, otherwise it will have very serious effects on your body. For your health, you must pay attention to this.