Is NaNO3 soluble in water? Is NaNO3 harmful to the body?

In this article, we will discuss the question of “Is NaNO3 soluble in water” and introduce the wide application of NaNO3 and how to aid the first time if someone accidentally touches NaNO3.

What is NaNO₃? Is NaNO₃ soluble in water?

NaNO₃ is the chemical formula of sodium nitrate, an inorganic compound with the appearance of white to yellow crystalline powder. It decomposes when heated to 380 degrees Celsius. NaNO₃ is highly soluble in water, liquid ammonia, soluble in methanol and ethanol, very slightly soluble in acetone, and slightly soluble in glycerol.

When dissolved in water, the solution becomes cold because sodium nitrate absorbs heat. And the aqueous solution is neutral. If the waste NaNO₃ needs to be treated, it can be directly dissolved in water, because the solution of NaNO₃ is non-toxic. So, if someone asks the question “Is NaNO3 soluble in water?”, we can tell him that the answer is yes!

What is NaNO₃ used for?

NaNO₃ is widely used in industrial production. NaNO₃ is the raw material for the fabrication of potassium nitrate, mine explosives, trinitrophenol, and so forth. NaNO₃ is used for the production of different kinds of glass and its products are defoamer, clarifying agent and oxidation flux in the glass industry. In the enamel industry, it is used as an oxidant and flux for the preparation of enamel powder. And it is also used as a steel and aluminum alloy heat treatment agent in the metallurgical industry.

Besides, it is very popular in many other fields. For example, the addition of NaNO₃ in the low-pressure boiler system inhibits the corrosion of metal on the waterside and prevents the embrittlement of metal materials. When used as a metal embrittlement inhibitor, it needs to be combined with sodium hydroxide and chosen in a certain proportion. So, is NaNO₃ soluble in water? It is! It is widely used in many fields because of its good water solubility. 

Is NaNO₃ toxic? 

NaNO₃ itself is not toxic, but NaNO₂ is toxic. NaNO₃ is decomposed by heating, resulting in NaNO₂. NaNO₃ is an inflammable dangerous goods, and it is easy to cause combustion and explosion when contacted with friction or impact with organic matter or phosphorus. Therefore, people who contact with sodium nitrate should wear a good gas mask, or wear protective clothing.

NaNO₂ is toxic, which is generated by heating NaNO₃. So if NaNO₃ comes into contact with the skin, the temperature of the skin may change from NaNO₃ to NaNO₂, causing irritation to the skin and mucosa, leading to eczema, ulceration and other diseases. NaNO₃ will also be reduced to NaNO₂ in the stomach of humans.

So if a large amount of NaNO₃ is taken, there may be severe vomiting, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, coma and other symptoms, and even leading to death.

Accidentally contacted NaNO₃, how to aid in the first time?

1. Skin contact: Remove contaminated clothing quickly and rinse with plenty of running water.

2. Eye contact: Lift eyelids, rinse with running water or saline, and seek medical attention.

3. Inhalation: Quickly leave the scene of NaNO₃ to the site with fresh air, and keep the airway smooth. If breathing with difficulty, perform oxygen therapy. If breathing stops, immediately give artificial respiration, and then rush to a nearby hospital.

 4. Ingestion: Gargle with water, drink milk or egg white to the person who ingested it, and then seek a doctor.

Is NaNO₃ classified as dangerous?

NaNO₃ is an inflammable dangerous goods. NaNO₃ is a strong oxidizing agent, which can fuel the fire when combustible materials encounter fire. It can cause combustion and explosion when contacting with easily oxidized substances, sulfur, reducing agents and strong acids. There is a yellow flame when it is burning, producing toxic and irritating nitrogen oxide gas, which has an irritating effect on the skin.

According to the 2015 edition of the Dangerous Goods Catalogue, NaNO₃ is classified as dangerous goods. Industrial NaNO₃ belongs to the second class of dangerous goods, which is easy to explode dangerous chemicals.

Conclusion: 

This brings us to give a conclusion on the topic of "Is NaNO₃ soluble in water". NaNO₃ is soluble in water, and its aqueous solution is non-toxic. But NaNO₃ is classified as hazardous goods. And if accidentally contacted with NaNO₃, we must give first aid to avoid being hurt. Besides, NaNO₃ is widely applied to many fields, such as the glass industry, enamel industry, and metallurgical industry, which benefits from its fine water solubility.