Abstract
sodium nitrate is a substance that is easily dissolved in water. NaSO3 is a chemical used for preserving meats and it is a very good perservitive due to the fact that it is a salt. Sodium nitrate is found in mass in chile and peru in deposits called caliche. Its melting point is 308 degrees Celsius. Research has shown a connection between the levels of nitrosamines in humans, and death toll of people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. Sodium nitrate is a very contriversial chemical
Sodium Nitrate
Sodium nitrate is also known as the chemical formula NaNO3.(1) This chemical compound is known to be water soluble, meaning Sodium nitrate can be dissolved in water.(2) A compound is made up of two or more elements.(6) Sodium nitrate is made using the elements sodium, nitrogen and oxygen. Another characteristic of Sodium nitrate is that is appears as a white crystal-like solid.(?) This chemical compound is a form of salt.(1) Not quite the common table salt you may use on your French fries or find on your dining room table for meals. Another name for Sodium nitrate is Chile or Peru saltpeter.(1) The chemical Sodium nitrate can be found in large deposits in Chile and Peru.(1) These natural deposits are found in what is called a caliche.(5) A caliche is a deposit of gypsum, sodium chloride and other salts.(5) A caliche may vary in thickness from fifteen centimeters to three point six meters.(5)
Sodium nitrate’s density is 2.3g/cm and it’s melting point is 308 degrees Celsius or 586.40 degrees Fahrenheit.(2) Sodium nitrate boils at 380 degrees Celsius.(2) The solubility of Sodium nitrate is in water is, g/100ml at 25 degrees Celsius2) The relative mass for Sodium nitrate 85.(2) Additionally, Sodium nitrate is an oxidizing agent.(3)
Sodium nitrate is used for a variety of different reasons. Your personal opinion may view Sodium nitrate as safe or harmful. Some of the products for which Sodium nitrate is used are for fertilizers, meat and fish preservatives, gun powder and fireworks or smoke bombs.(1)(3)(4) Sodium nitrate takes away moisture from bacteria.(4) A bacteria utilizes moisture, food and oxygen.(4) Bacteria cannot survive without all three elements as names above. Therefore, once the moisture is removed, so is the bacteria killed.(4) That is the reason that Sodium nitrate is so popular in many of today’s cured meats. We must ask ourselves if Sodium nitrate kills the bacteria, how safe is Sodium nitrate for humans.
Sodium nitrate is considered a carcinogen or, a cancer causing agent.(1) The main reason that Sodium nitrate is dangerous is because nitrosamines are formed.(1) Nitrosamines cause humans DNA to become damaged and research has shown a connection between the levels of nitrosamines in humans, and death toll of people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and even Alzheimer’s Disease. Additionally, nitrosamines has been connected to those suffering with gastrointestinal cancer.(1) There has even been a connection in humans between nitrosamines and Oesophageal Disease.(1)
Sodium nitrate can be ingested, absorbed through the skin, inhaled or absorbed through the eyes.(2) There are many precautions that should be followed as Sodium Nitrate is a dangerous chemical. All chemicals need to be handled with care. PPE or personal protective equipment should always be utilized when touching dangerous chemicals.(1) Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS exist for all chemicals manufactured and purchased. An MSDS contains all information for the safety of the person using the chemical.(1) Always store Sodium nitrate away from fire if there is a fire hazard, as well as children.(1) Sodium nitrate requires the user to put on a safety mask, gloves, proper ventilation, and goggles.(2) Most importantly is to never have food in the vicinity of the chemical and never eat in the area.(2) Hand washing afterwards is always required.(2) Always buy any chemicals from a safe dealer.(1) With all the precautions, one would have to ask how safe is it to use Sodium nitrate in our foods. I would even have to ask about fireworks since the chemical compound is always left in the air that we breathe. As the MSDS stated, one of the routes of entry into our body is by inhalation.
Bibliography
1) Alfaro, Danilo. "Facts About Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite." About.com Culinary Arts. Danilo Alfaro, 2012. Web. 09 Oct. 2012.
2) Dicky, Norma H., ed. "Saltpeter." Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 1993. Print.
3) InChem. "SODIUM NITRATE." ICSC 0185 - SODIUM NITRATE. InChem, 2004. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0185.htm>.
4) Moore, John T. Chemistry for Dummies. New York, NY: Wiley Pub., 2003. Print.
5) Reagent. "Sodium Nitrate." : ReAgent Chemicals. ReAgent, 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sodiumnitrate.co.uk/index.html>.
6) Williams, Carolyn. "Sodium Nitrate Vs. Sodium Nitrite." LIVESTRONG.COM. Carolyn Williams, 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/284954-sodium-nitrate-vs-sodium-nitrite/>.
Sodium nitrate’s density is 2.3g/cm and it’s melting point is 308 degrees Celsius or 586.40 degrees Fahrenheit.(2) Sodium nitrate boils at 380 degrees Celsius.(2) The solubility of Sodium nitrate is in water is, g/100ml at 25 degrees Celsius2) The relative mass for Sodium nitrate 85.(2) Additionally, Sodium nitrate is an oxidizing agent.(3)
Sodium nitrate is used for a variety of different reasons. Your personal opinion may view Sodium nitrate as safe or harmful. Some of the products for which Sodium nitrate is used are for fertilizers, meat and fish preservatives, gun powder and fireworks or smoke bombs.(1)(3)(4) Sodium nitrate takes away moisture from bacteria.(4) A bacteria utilizes moisture, food and oxygen.(4) Bacteria cannot survive without all three elements as names above. Therefore, once the moisture is removed, so is the bacteria killed.(4) That is the reason that Sodium nitrate is so popular in many of today’s cured meats. We must ask ourselves if Sodium nitrate kills the bacteria, how safe is Sodium nitrate for humans.
Sodium nitrate is considered a carcinogen or, a cancer causing agent.(1) The main reason that Sodium nitrate is dangerous is because nitrosamines are formed.(1) Nitrosamines cause humans DNA to become damaged and research has shown a connection between the levels of nitrosamines in humans, and death toll of people suffering from Parkinson’s Disease and even Alzheimer’s Disease. Additionally, nitrosamines has been connected to those suffering with gastrointestinal cancer.(1) There has even been a connection in humans between nitrosamines and Oesophageal Disease.(1)
Sodium nitrate can be ingested, absorbed through the skin, inhaled or absorbed through the eyes.(2) There are many precautions that should be followed as Sodium Nitrate is a dangerous chemical. All chemicals need to be handled with care. PPE or personal protective equipment should always be utilized when touching dangerous chemicals.(1) Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDS exist for all chemicals manufactured and purchased. An MSDS contains all information for the safety of the person using the chemical.(1) Always store Sodium nitrate away from fire if there is a fire hazard, as well as children.(1) Sodium nitrate requires the user to put on a safety mask, gloves, proper ventilation, and goggles.(2) Most importantly is to never have food in the vicinity of the chemical and never eat in the area.(2) Hand washing afterwards is always required.(2) Always buy any chemicals from a safe dealer.(1) With all the precautions, one would have to ask how safe is it to use Sodium nitrate in our foods. I would even have to ask about fireworks since the chemical compound is always left in the air that we breathe. As the MSDS stated, one of the routes of entry into our body is by inhalation.
Bibliography
1) Alfaro, Danilo. "Facts About Sodium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrite." About.com Culinary Arts. Danilo Alfaro, 2012. Web. 09 Oct. 2012.
2) Dicky, Norma H., ed. "Saltpeter." Funk and Wagnalls New Encyclopedia. 1993. Print.
3) InChem. "SODIUM NITRATE." ICSC 0185 - SODIUM NITRATE. InChem, 2004. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.inchem.org/documents/icsc/icsc/eics0185.htm>.
4) Moore, John T. Chemistry for Dummies. New York, NY: Wiley Pub., 2003. Print.
5) Reagent. "Sodium Nitrate." : ReAgent Chemicals. ReAgent, 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.sodiumnitrate.co.uk/index.html>.
6) Williams, Carolyn. "Sodium Nitrate Vs. Sodium Nitrite." LIVESTRONG.COM. Carolyn Williams, 20 Oct. 2010. Web. 09 Oct. 2012. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/284954-sodium-nitrate-vs-sodium-nitrite/>.
The Reaction
NH4NO3+NaOH -> NaNO3+NH4OH
Steps for sinthesis
1) measure the mass of the beaker
2) add half a spoonfull of NH4NO3 to the beaker
3) find the combined weight of the beaker and the NH4NO3
4) add half a spoonfull of NaOH to a seperate beaker
5) dissolve each into their beakers
6) once each is dissolved add them each to one beaker
7) observe the evidence of the reaction
Steps for sinthesis
1) measure the mass of the beaker
2) add half a spoonfull of NH4NO3 to the beaker
3) find the combined weight of the beaker and the NH4NO3
4) add half a spoonfull of NaOH to a seperate beaker
5) dissolve each into their beakers
6) once each is dissolved add them each to one beaker
7) observe the evidence of the reaction
Lab Conclusion
In the experiment, pouring aqueous NH4*NO3* and NaOH together caused heat as well as bubbles. The heat and bubbles prove that a chemica reaction occurred. The bubbles in the beaker were NH3*. The desired chemical(NaNO3*) was dissolved into the water based solution. If given time the water from the solution would evaporate leaving behind a white crusty precipitate of NaNO3*. In this experiment, there were few sources of error. A possible source of error could be inaccurate calculations of the masses. Another source of error could be non-consistent measuring of the reactants, using "spoonfuls" as an amount.
(All asterisks * symbolize a subscript)
(All asterisks * symbolize a subscript)
Data & Mathematics
Data:
Mass of beaker-30g
Mass of beaker with a "spoonful" of NH4*NO3* - 31.5g
Mass of a "spoonful" of NH4*NO3* - 1.5g
Reaction:
NH4*NO3* + NaOH -> NaNO3* + NH4*OH
Mass of beaker-30g
Mass of beaker with a "spoonful" of NH4*NO3* - 31.5g
Mass of a "spoonful" of NH4*NO3* - 1.5g
Reaction:
NH4*NO3* + NaOH -> NaNO3* + NH4*OH
Synthesizes: 1.59g of NaNO3*