Subnitrate

Subnitrate is a chemical term referring to a salt or compound containing the subnitrate anion, which has the chemical formula NO2-. This anion is the conjugate base of nitrous acid (HNO2). Subnitrate compounds are typically derived from reactions involving nitrous acid or nitrite salts.

Subnitrates are often less stable than their corresponding nitrate counterparts, which contain the NO3- anion. This difference in stability can influence their reactivity and applications. For instance, subnitrates can sometimes be reduced to nitrogen gas or other nitrogen compounds under certain conditions.

In some contexts, the term "subnitrate" might be used informally to describe a compound where the nitrogen atom has a lower oxidation state compared to the fully oxidized nitrate form. However, in precise chemical nomenclature, it specifically refers to the nitrite anion. Examples of subnitrate compounds include various metal nitrites, such as sodium nitrite (NaNO2) and potassium nitrite (KNO2). These compounds find uses in various industrial processes, including food preservation as curing agents, in the production of dyes, and in some chemical syntheses. The handling and storage of subnitrate compounds require care due to their potential reactivity and, in some cases, toxicity.