Sodium nitrite

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sodium-nitrite

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How heavy is Sodium nitrite?69.00 g/mol
2. What is the chemical formula?NaNO2
3. What is the CAS number?7632-00-0
4. What does sodium nitrite look like?Sodium nitrite is a white to pale yellow crystalline powder. It dissolves easily in water.
5. Why is sodium nitrite added to cured meats?It reacts with the protein myoglobin to give cured meats a pinkish‑red color and a special flavor.

Hygroscopic: Tending to absorb moisture from the air.
Precursor: A substance that is used to make another substance in a chemical reaction.
Diazotization: A chemical reaction that converts primary aromatic amines into diazonium salts.
Nitrosamines: A group of chemicals that can be formed from nitrites and amines, some of which are carcinogenic.