Sodium Nitrite vs Nitrate

[pompey1999]

What's the difference? Some posts I've found have talked of using sodium nitrate, and others have talked of sodium nitrite? Which one is best/correct?

 

[justanotherstar]

You are looking for Nitrite - not sure of the science but nitrate is a different salt

 

[Tintypographer]

It's a big difference. Nitrate is NO3 with a -1 charge. nitrite is NO2 with the same charge. Nitrite at high concentrations in the body can oxidize the ferrous Fe2+ ion to Ferric ions Fe3+ in hemoglobin which prevents hemoglobin from binding O2.

High concentrations of nitrates can still be toxic as they can metabolize to nitrite but most of the soluble nitrates are rapidly excreted in urine.

Nitrates have a very short half life in the body while nitrites are longer but still have half lives within 1 hour before they are excreted.

It is much more difficult to die from nitrate poisoning.

 

[TowerUpright]

Sodium nitrate also can be used as an oxidizing agent in black powder. Probably not a peaceful way to go.

 

[color_me_gone]

@Tintypographer
100% correct - best answer

 

[Aap]

The difference is 30 seconds of using the search function...

 

[I screwed up]

If you wanna ctb .. Science aside Nitrite is ur answer not nitrate.