Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 14, 2026

Barium nitrite

Barium nitrite is a chemical compound with the formula Ba(NO2)2, the nitrous acid salt of barium. It is a water-soluble white to yellowish powder. It is used to prepare other metal nitrites, such as lithium nitrite.

Last revised
Jun 14, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
245 w
Citations
13
Source
Barium nitrite
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Barium nitrite
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.033.358
EC Number
  • 236-709-9
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Ba.2HNO2/c;2*2-1-3/h;2*(H,2,3)/q+2;;/p-2
    Key: GJTDJAPHKDIQIQ-UHFFFAOYSA-L
  • N(=O)[O-].N(=O)[O-].[Ba+2]
Properties
Ba(NO2)2
Molar mass 229.34 g/mol
Appearance white (anhydrous)1
white to yellowish (monohydrate)1
Density 3.234 g/cm3 (anhydrous)1
3.173 g/cm3 (monohydrate)1
Melting point 267 °C (anhydrous)1

217 °C decomposes1 (monohydrate)

anhydrous
675 g/L (20 °C)1
monohydrate
548 g/L (0 °C)1
3190 g/L (100 °C)1
Solubility anhydrous
slightly soluble in ethanol1
monohydrate
soluble in ethanol
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Toxic
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H302, H332
P261, P264, P270, P271, P301+P317, P304+P340, P317, P330, P501
Related compounds
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Barium nitrite is a chemical compound with the formula Ba(NO2)2, the nitrous acid salt of barium. It is a water-soluble white to yellowish powder.1 It is used to prepare other metal nitrites, such as lithium nitrite.

Synthesis

Barium nitrite can be prepared by reacting barium nitrate with lead metal sponge, or by reaction of lead nitrite with barium chloride.2

The monohydrate can be crystallized from a stoichiometric solution of barium chloride and sodium nitrite.1

References

References

  1. Perry, Dale L. (2016-04-19). Handbook of Inorganic Compounds. CRC Press. p. 54. ISBN 978-1-4398-1462-8.
  2. Schlessinger GG (1962). Inorganic laboratory preparations. pp. 34–35.