Reaction of Nitrogen Monoxide with Oxygen to form Nitric Acid
Demonstration Notes, Warnings, Safety Information
Nitrogen monoxide is immediately converted to nitrogen dioxide in air. Nitrogen dioxide forms acid on contact with moisture and is a poisonous, choking gas. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide may cause only slight pain or even pass unnoticed, but several days later may result in edema and cause death. 100 ppm is dangerous for even a short exposure and 200 ppm can cause death. This reaction should only be done with proper ventilation.
These demonstration videos are not meant as tools to teach chemical demonstration techniques. They are meant as a tools for classroom use. Many of the demonstrations present safety hazards or are difficult for an entire class to observe as live demos. If you wish to perform the demonstrations shown here, you should obtain a copy of Shakhashiri's Chemical Demonstrations Vol. 1-4 (1), Gilbert, Alyea, Dutton and Dreisbach's Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry, Vol. I and II (2) and Ellis, Geselbracht, Johnson, Lisensky, and Robinson's Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion (3).
Safety information can be obtained from (4).
Credits for the safety information throughout Chemistry Comes Alive!:
Frank W. Darrow, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850
Kelly Houston Jetzer, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Gery J. Essenmacher, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
David Phillips, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933
John W. Moore, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Citations
1. Shakhashiri. B. Z. Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1983; Vol. 1.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1985; Vol. 2.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1989; Vol. 3.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1992; Vol. 4.
2. Gilbert, G. L.; Alyea, H. N.; Dutton, F. B.; Dreisbach, D. Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry; Denison University and Journal of Chemical Education: Granville, OH, 1994.
3. Ellis, A. B.; Geselbracht, M. J.; Johnson, B. J.; Lisensky, G. C.; Robinson, W. R. Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1993.
4. University of Wisconsin System Administration OSLP EHS MSDS Database; http://www.uwsa.edu/oslp/ehs/msds98-1/ Try this link if you are connected to the web.