Ammonium nitrite represented by the chemical formula NH₄NO₂ or H₄N₂O₂ ^[1] that bears the IUPAC name azanium nitrite ^[4] is a compound containing nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen that is soluble in water ^[6]. It is an ammonium salt and an ionic compound ^[1].

Ammonium Nitrite Identification
CAS Number	13446-48-5 [1]
PubChem CID	26004 [1]
ChemSpider ID	24223 [2]
EC Number	236-598-7 [1]

How to Make it

Ammonium nitrite can be prepared by a reaction between silver nitrite and ammonium chloride that also produces silver chloride ^[6].

2AgNO₂ + NH₄Cl = NH₄NO₂ + 2AgCl

Nitrous acid also reacts with ammonium hydroxide to produce ammonium nitrite and water ^[7].

HNO₂ + NH₄OH = NH₄NO₂ + H₂O

Properties and Characteristics of Ammonium Nitrite

General Properties
Molar mass/molecular weight	64.044 g/mol [1]
Physical Properties
Color/appearance	White-yellowish crystals [5]
Odor	Odorless [6]
Melting point/freezing point	Decomposes (explodes at 60°C-70°C) [3]
Boiling point	N/A [4]
Density	1.69 g cm-3 [3]
State of matter at room temperature (normal phase)	Solid [5]
Chemical Properties
Solubility in water	64.3 g/100g (at 19.15oC) [5]
pH	>7 (basic) [6]

Prominent Reactions

If the concentrated solution of the compound is heated too strongly, it explodes decomposing into nitrogen gas and water ^{[5, 6]}.

NH₄NO₂ = N₂ + 2H₂O

Ammonium Nitrite Uses

1. As a microbiocide, rodenticide and agricultural pesticide ^[4].
2. For the synthesis of nitrogen gas and ammonium cobalt-nitrite ^[6].
3. In making explosives ^[6].

Is It Dangerous

The compound is highly toxic to humans and aquatic animals. It can cause an explosion hazard. Heating it can produce toxic fumes of ammonia and nitrogen oxides ^{[4, 6]}

Ammonium Nitrite (NH₄NO₂) Cost

The unstable compound is extremely difficult to find in its pure form and almost none of the major chemical suppliers sell it for commercial purposes ^[6].

References
1. Ammonium Nitrite – Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Ammonium Nitrite – Chemspider.com
3. Ammonium Nitrite Formula – Byjus.com
4. Ammonium Nitrite – Lookchem.com
5. Ammonium Nitrite, 20% Soln – Chemicalbook.com
6. Ammonium Nitrite – http://www.sciencemadness.org/smwiki/index.php/Ammonium_nitrite
7. Nitrous acid react with ammonium hydroxide – Chemiday.com