Discovery
Nitrite is present at trace levels in soil, natural waters, plant and animal tissues, and fertilizer. The pure form of nitrite was first made by the prolific Swedish chemist Scheele working in the laboratory of his pharmacy in the market town of Köping. He heated potassium nitrate at red heat for half an hour and obtained what he recognized as a new “salt.” The two compounds (potassium nitrate and nitrite) were characterized by Péligot and the reaction was established as 2KNO3→2KNO2+O2.
Read more about this topic: Potassium Nitrite
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