 | |
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name Hydrazine-1,1,2,2-tetrol | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) | |
| ChemSpider | |
| |
| |
| Properties | |
| H4N2O4 | |
| Molar mass | 96.042 g·mol−1 |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in theirstandard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |
Nitroxylic acid orhydronitrous acid is an unstable reduced oxonitrogen acid. It has formula H4N2O4 containing nitrogen in the +2 oxidation state.[1] It consists of a central pair of bondednitrogen atoms with fourhydroxyl groups around them, giving rise tohydrazine-1,1,2,2-tetrol as an alternate chemical name.
The corresponding anion callednitroxylate isN
2O4−
4; itsempirical formulaNO2−
2 is the basis for the original names of some of itssalts.
The first clue that nitroxylic acid exists was whenEdward Bedford Maxted electrolysedsodium nitrite dissolved inliquid ammonia. A bright yellow substance deposited on the cathode. He called thisdisodium nitrite. The disodium nitrite could also be made by mixing ammonia solutions of sodium and sodium nitrite in the complete absence of water. Disodium nitrite reacts with water to form sodium nitrite,sodium hydroxide andhydrogen.[2] Other ways to make the disodium nitrite include reacting sodium withammonium nitrate or electrolysingsodium nitrate solution. The substance is calledsodium nitroxylate by currentsystematic nomenclature rules.
Disodium nitrite is very unstable and experimenters often had their apparatus destroyed when making it. Disodium nitrite reacts with oxygen and carbon dioxide explosively.[3] Lithium sodium nitroxylate LiNaNO2 also exists and explodes at 130 °C.[4]
The parent compound, nitroxylic acid, might be produced whennitrous acid is reduced by theEu2+ ion.[5]
