1.0 2009-08-05 14:21:34 UTC 2026-04-05 18:43:14 UTC T3D3550 Potassium nitrite SmallMolecule Potassium nitrite is an exogenous inorganic compound with the formula KNO2 and an average molecular weight of 85.10 g/mol. It exists as a solid at room temperature. Potassium nitrite belongs to the alkali metal nitrites, a subclass of alkali metal oxoanionic compounds within the inorganic compounds. It is used as a food preservative and in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts. The compound is found in or released from seven recorded sources, including household cleaning and consumer products such as soap dispensers and tobacco product cases or moisture control. It is also found in electrical and electronic equipment, specifically antennas and gas filled discharge tubes with solid cathode, as well as in food, food processing and cookware, including the processing of meats and the preparation of wine or sparkling wine. Potassium nitrite is associated with colorectal cancer (PMC10301060). It targets hemoglobin subunit alpha (HBA1) and hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB). Nitrite causes the autocatalytic oxidation of oxyhemoglobin to hydrogen peroxide and methemoglobin. This elevation of methemoglobin levels results in a condition known as methemoglobinemia, which is characterized by tissue hypoxia because methemoglobin cannot bind oxygen. Household Toxin Industrial/Workplace Toxin Food Toxin Synthetic Toxin Inorganic Compound Nitrite Food Toxin Preservative Household Toxin Industrial/Workplace Toxin Synthetic Compound Nitrous acid potassium salt Nitrous acid potassium salt (1:1) Potassium nitrite (1:1) Potassium nitrite (KNO2) KNO2 85.1038 84.95661011 potassium nitrite potassium nitrite 7758-09-0 [K+].[O-]N=O InChI=1S/K.HNO2/c;2-1-3/h;(H,2,3)/q+1;/p-1 BXNHTSHTPBPRFX-UHFFFAOYSA-M Inorganic compounds Mixed metal/non-metal compounds Alkali metal oxoanionic compounds Alkali metal nitrites Alkali metal nitrites Inorganic nitrites Inorganic oxides Inorganic salts Alkali metal nitrite Inorganic nitrite Inorganic oxide Inorganic salt Detected and Not Quantified Exogenous Cytoplasm Extracellular Solid White powder. melting_point 440°C (decomp) logp 0.17 ChemAxon pka_strongest_acidic 3.32 ChemAxon pka_strongest_basic -3.5 ChemAxon iupac potassium nitrite ChemAxon average_mass 85.1038 ChemAxon mono_mass 84.95661011 ChemAxon smiles [K+].[O-]N=O ChemAxon formula KNO2 ChemAxon inchi InChI=1S/K.HNO2/c;2-1-3/h;(H,2,3)/q+1;/p-1 ChemAxon inchikey BXNHTSHTPBPRFX-UHFFFAOYSA-M ChemAxon polar_surface_area 52.49 ChemAxon refractivity 7.6 ChemAxon polarizability 2.44 ChemAxon rotatable_bond_count 0 ChemAxon acceptor_count 3 ChemAxon donor_count 0 ChemAxon physiological_charge -1 ChemAxon formal_charge 0 ChemAxon Oral (L1137) ; inhalation (L1137) 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) Nitrites and their metabolites are excreted in the urine. (L1137) LC50: 85 g/m3 over 2 hours (Inhalation, Mouse) (T13) 10 to 100 mg/kg for an adult human. (L1618) Ingested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). (L135) Potassium nitrite is used as a food preservative and in the manufacturing of heat transfer salts. (L1616) #<HealthEffect::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f7282992450> 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) 516910 22857 Potassium nitrite 12168 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrite 18203719 Lewis RJ Sr. (ed) (2004). Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 11th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Interscience, Wiley & Sons, Inc. International Agency for Research on Cancer (2014). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. : http://monographs.iarc.fr/index.php ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2007). Case Studies in Environmental Medicine. Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity. U.S. Public Health Service in collaboration with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). : http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/nitrate/nitrate.html Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia Wikipedia. Potassium nitrite. Last Updated 22 July 2009.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrite International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) INCHEM (1996). Poison Information Monograph for Nitrates and Nitrites. : http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pimg016.htm BE0000130 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0000629 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0004987 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0004975 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0004556 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0004998 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0004986 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0005028 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia BE0005021 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) Wikipedia. Methemoglobinemia. Last Updated 22 July 2009. : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methemoglobinemia