Potassium nitrite (CHEM002540)

IdentificationTaxonomyBiological PropertiesPhysical PropertiesToxicity ProfileSpectraConcentrationsLinksReferencesTargets (9)XML
Record Information
Version1.0
Creation Date2009-08-05 14:21:34 UTC
Update Date2026-04-05 18:43:14 UTC
Accession NumberCHEM002540
Identification
Common NamePotassium nitrite
ClassSmall Molecule
DescriptionPotassium nitrite is a chemical compound of potassium and nitrite ions. It is used as a food preservative and in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts. Nitrite is a toxic compound known to cause methemoglobinemia. (3, 5)
Contaminant Sources
  • EAFUS Chemicals
  • FooDB Chemicals
  • HPV EPA Chemicals
  • T3DB toxins
  • ToxCast & Tox21 Chemicals
Contaminant Type
  • Food Toxin
  • Household Toxin
  • Industrial/Workplace Toxin
  • Inorganic Compound
  • Nitrite
  • Preservative
  • Synthetic Compound
Chemical Structure
Thumb
MOLSDFPDBSMILESInChI
SynonymsNot Available
Chemical FormulaKNO2
Average Molecular Mass85.104 g/mol
Monoisotopic Mass84.957 g/mol
CAS Registry Number7758-09-0
IUPAC Namepotassium nitrite
Traditional Namepotassium nitrite
SMILES[K+].[O-]N=O
InChI IdentifierInChI=1S/K.HNO2/c;2-1-3/h;(H,2,3)/q+1;/p-1
InChI KeyBXNHTSHTPBPRFX-UHFFFAOYSA-M
Chemical Taxonomy
Description belongs to the class of inorganic compounds known as alkali metal nitrites. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest oxoanion is nitrite, and in which the heaviest atom not in an oxoanion is an alkali metal.
KingdomInorganic compounds
Super ClassMixed metal/non-metal compounds
ClassAlkali metal oxoanionic compounds
Sub ClassAlkali metal nitrites
Direct ParentAlkali metal nitrites
Alternative Parents
Substituents
  • Alkali metal nitrite
  • Inorganic nitrite
  • Inorganic oxide
  • Inorganic salt
Molecular FrameworkNot Available
External DescriptorsNot Available
Biological Properties
StatusDetected and Not Quantified
OriginExogenous
Cellular Locations
  • Cytoplasm
  • Extracellular
Biofluid LocationsNot Available
Tissue LocationsNot Available
PathwaysNot Available
ApplicationsNot Available
Biological RolesNot Available
Chemical RolesNot Available
Physical Properties
StateSolid
AppearanceWhite powder.
Experimental Properties
PropertyValue
Melting Point440°C (decomp)
Boiling PointNot Available
SolubilityNot Available
Predicted Properties
PropertyValueSource
logP0.17ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Acidic)3.32ChemAxon
pKa (Strongest Basic)-3.5ChemAxon
Physiological Charge-1ChemAxon
Hydrogen Acceptor Count3ChemAxon
Hydrogen Donor Count0ChemAxon
Polar Surface Area52.49 ŲChemAxon
Rotatable Bond Count0ChemAxon
Refractivity7.6 m³·mol⁻¹ChemAxon
Polarizability2.44 ųChemAxon
Number of Rings0ChemAxon
Bioavailability1ChemAxon
Rule of FiveYesChemAxon
Ghose FilterNoChemAxon
Veber's RuleNoChemAxon
MDDR-like RuleNoChemAxon
Spectra
Spectra
Spectrum TypeDescriptionSplash KeyView
Predicted GC-MSPredicted GC-MS Spectrum - GC-MS (Non-derivatized) - 70eV, Positivesplash10-001i-9000000000-e60ddfbbc2acd3780a5cSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 10V, Positivesplash10-000i-9000000000-daef1bc2a1ca857a1332Spectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 20V, Positivesplash10-000i-9000000000-059350c5062db4fcc53fSpectrum
Predicted LC-MS/MSPredicted LC-MS/MS Spectrum - 40V, Positivesplash10-000i-9000000000-9b896e4e7609011eac15Spectrum
Toxicity Profile
Route of ExposureOral (3) ; inhalation (3)
Mechanism of ToxicityNitrite causes the autocatalytic oxidation of oxyhemoglobin to hydrogen peroxide and methemoglobin. This elevation of methemoglobin levels is a condition known as methemoglobinemia, and is characterized by tissue hypoxia, as methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen. (1, 4)
MetabolismNitrites and their metabolites are excreted in the urine. (3)
Toxicity ValuesLC50: 85 g/m3 over 2 hours (Inhalation, Mouse) (7)
Lethal Dose10 to 100 mg/kg for an adult human. (6)
Carcinogenicity (IARC Classification)Ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). (2)
Uses/SourcesPotassium nitrite is used as a food preservative and in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts. (5)
Minimum Risk LevelNot Available
Health EffectsNitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Nitrites may cause pregnancy complications and developmental effects. They may also be carcinogenic. (3)
SymptomsNitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Symptoms include cyanosis, cardiac dysrhythmias and circulatory failure, and progressive central nervous system (CNS) effects. CNS effects can range from mild dizziness and lethargy to coma and convulsions. (3)
TreatmentMethemoglobinemia can be treated with supplemental oxygen and methylene blue 1% solution administered intravenously slowly over five minutes followed by IV flush with normal saline. Methylene blue restores the iron in hemoglobin to its normal (reduced) oxygen-carrying state. (4)
Concentrations
Not Available
DrugBank IDDB11162
HMDB IDHMDB0303530
FooDB IDFDB015408
Phenol Explorer IDNot Available
KNApSAcK IDNot Available
BiGG IDNot Available
BioCyc IDNot Available
METLIN IDNot Available
PDB IDNot Available
Wikipedia LinkNot Available
Chemspider ID22857
ChEBI IDNot Available
PubChem Compound ID24449
Kegg Compound IDNot Available
YMDB IDNot Available
ECMDB IDNot Available
References
Synthesis ReferenceNot Available
MSDSNot Available
General ReferencesNot Available