Light degrading SN?

[cait_sith]

I am a very unorganised messy person I recently noticed that the shelf I kept my sn in was open in the kitchen for a long time, no idea when it was closed last time, now I am scared that light might have degrade it like light can degrade medication, I can't say for sure how much light got in the sn but it wasn't direct sunlight, but it might have been exposed to electric light for a long time. It's in a opaque container with a plastic bag around it.

 

[nihilistic_dragon]

Good question. Did you check the sticky thread on SN stability, maybe there is some info there?

 

[Valhala]

With the stability of SN, the main factor that negatively affects the quality of moisture, light is not a problem.

 

[athiestjoe]

You said it was in an opaque container and further with a bag and also not in direct sunlight, so it should be fine. While others are right in that moisture is primarily the concern, it is a little inacurate of others to say light is not a problem at all. It should absolutely be stored in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight.

UV radiation can initiate photochemical reactions that lead to the degradation of SN as sunlight, particularly in the UVA and UVB ranges (SN absorbs UV radiation primarily in the 200-300 nm range). The reason is light can excite the nitrite ion which can absorb light in that range and bonds between nitrogen and oxygen in the nitrite ion to weaken, leading to the formation of nitrogen dioxide and other similar reactive intermediates. This process then generate free radicals that further react with SN ultimately leading to oxidation-reduction into nitrate. But yes that risk is heightened in the presence of other substances (such as moisture). It should not be stored in direct sunlight.

I doubt the electric lights you have emit light in the UVB range that would be measurable enough to effect it: fluorescent lights do produce some UVB radiation, incandescent produce very little and LED don't really produce any that would be of risk for SN. I do not think it is rise for much worry.

Even if it was in direct sunlight, if it was sealed and airtight it should not degrade that quickly for it to be a concern especially in absence of moisture. If you are truly concerned, it would be worth testing it before use but I think it would pretty unlikely it degraded that much, that quick, especially because here you said it wasn't direct sunlight anyways.

Hope you find everything you are looking for and get whatever peace & serenity you seek.

 

[maniac116]

You should be fine. SN is fairly stable

 

[cait_sith]

You said it was in an opaque container and further with a bag and also not in direct sunlight, so it should be fine. While others are right in that moisture is primarily the concern, it is a little inacurate of others to say light is not a problem at all. It should absolutely be stored in a cool, dark place out of direct sunlight.

UV radiation can initiate photochemical reactions that lead to the degradation of SN as sunlight, particularly in the UVA and UVB ranges (SN absorbs UV radiation primarily in the 200-300 nm range). The reason is light can excite the nitrite ion which can absorb light in that range and bonds between nitrogen and oxygen in the nitrite ion to weaken, leading to the formation of nitrogen dioxide and other similar reactive intermediates. This process then generate free radicals that further react with SN ultimately leading to oxidation-reduction into nitrate. But yes that risk is heightened in the presence of other substances (such as moisture). It should not be stored in direct sunlight.

I doubt the electric lights you have emit light in the UVB range that would be measurable enough to effect it: fluorescent lights do produce some UVB radiation, incandescent produce very little and LED don't really produce any that would be of risk for SN. I do not think it is rise for much worry.

Even if it was in direct sunlight, if it was sealed and airtight it should not degrade that quickly for it to be a concern especially in absence of moisture. If you are truly concerned, it would be worth testing it before use but I think it would pretty unlikely it degraded that much, that quick, especially because here you said it wasn't direct sunlight anyways.

Hope you find everything you are looking for and get whatever peace & serenity you seek.

Thank you for your throughout comment. The problem with me and my retardation is that i put it in a shelf that might have been open for weeks, I don't know as I am very scatterbrained, I should have just put it somewhere else, but that being said it was never exposed to direct sunlight for a long time. I got the sn delivered on the end of may this year, sealed in a opaque white container, BM-brand, 500g. It basically was in a closed shelf but there were other things in it too so might have let it opened for long times, in my flat things that get opened can stay open for weeks without notice. But the shelf is not really exposed to direct sunlight, there is window there of course but curtains are mostly closed. The bag is a white plastic see-through bag that you might know from grocery shopping. How do you judge this scenario? it was just yesterday with all the eye-drops I have to take that have be stored away from light that I got the thought that my sn might be affected. I feel so dumb again, why can't I take care of important things?

 

[cowboypants]

As long it's not getting hot in there it should be okay. It's a little away from the ideal conditions but SN like others have said is pretty stable.