conditions can ammonia be oxidized to NH4NO2, the Ber. ref. from Hoppe-Seyler describes it... strong solutions of H2O2 with a few drops of NH4OH or
solutions of ammonium carbonate (with or without NaOH or Na2CO3) can be let to stand 24 hours without any nitrite formation occurring. But upon longer
standing, even with a small amount of hydroxide then nitrite forms. H2O2 forms (even in very dilute solutions) nitrite very rapidly, if the H2O2
solution is mixed with a few drops of NH4OH and a little NaOH or Na2CO3, and this then boiled in a retort to a very small volume. They suggest this
nitrite formation as a demonstration experiment because it is very quick to do, and then after acidification of the colorless liquid with H2SO4, the
HNO2 can be nicely be proven to be present. Excess H2O2 would oxidize the NH4NO2 to NH4NO3. |