3608 Dinitrogen tetroxide Dinitrogen tetroxide is a chemical compound that is a powerful oxidizer, highly toxic, and corrosive. It is used mainly as a rocket propellant. Nitrite is a toxic compound known to cause methemoglobinemia. (L1137, L1625) 10544-72-6 25352 N2O4 91.985810 Colorless gas. -11.3°C Oral (L1137) ; inhalation (L1137) Nitrate's toxicity is a result of it's conversion to nitrite once in the body. Nitrite 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. (A2450, L1613) Intake of some amount of nitrates and nitrites is a normal part of the nitrogen cycle in humans. In vivo conversion of nitrates to nitrites can occur in the gastrointestional tract under the right conditions, significantly enhancing nitrates' toxic potency. The major metabolic pathway for nitrate is conversion to nitrite, and then to ammonia. Nitrites, nitrates, and their metabolites are excreted in the urine. (L1137) No indication of carcinogenicity (not listed by IARC). (L135) Nitrate and nitrite poisoning causes methemoglobinemia. Nitrites may cause pregnancy complications and developmental effects. They may also be carcinogenic. (L1137) Nitrate and nitrite 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. (L1137) Methemoglobinemia 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. (L1613) 2009-08-05T17:01:48Z 2026-04-05T20:22:02Z Dinitrogen_tetroxide 29803 Dinitrogen tetroxide true [O-][N+](=O)[N+]([O-])=O N2O4 InChI=1S/N2O4/c3-1(4)2(5)6 WFPZPJSADLPSON-UHFFFAOYSA-N 92.011 91.985806498 Exogenous Gas 23681 CHEM002548 NS00085272 dinitrogen tetroxide