Ethyl nitrite

Ethyl nitrite
IUPAC name 1-Nitrosooxyethane
Other names Ethyl alcohol nitrite; Nitrous acid, ethyl ester; Nitrethyl
Identifiers
	PubChem	8026
ChemSpider	7735 Y
Jmol-3D images	Image 1
SMILES O=NOCC
InChI InChI=1S/C2H5NO2/c1-2-5-3-4/h2H2,1H3 Y Key: QQZWEECEMNQSTG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y InChI=1/C2H5NO2/c1-2-5-3-4/h2H2,1H3 Key: QQZWEECEMNQSTG-UHFFFAOYAU
Properties
Molecular formula	C2H5NO2
Molar mass	75.07 g mol−1
Boiling point	17 °C; 63 °F; 290 K
Hazards
NFPA 704	4 4 4
Y (verify) (what is: Y/N?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C (77 °F), 100 kPa)
Infobox references

The chemical compound ethyl nitrite is an alkyl nitrite. It may be prepared from ethanol.^[1]

Ethyl nitrite is the main ingredient in a traditional ethanol-based South African remedy for colds and flu known as Witdulsies and sold in pharmacies. It is known as a traditional Afrikaans remedy and may have Dutch roots, as the same remedy is apparently made by the Germano-Dutch Amish people in the USA. However FDA has blocked over-the-counter sales of this same remedy, known in the USA as sweet nitrite or sweet spirit of nitre since 1980.^[2]

References

1. ↑ Semon, W. L.; Damerell, V. R. (1943), "Dimethylglyoxime", Org. Synth. ; Coll. Vol. 2: 204 
2. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DevelopmentApprovalProcess/DevelopmentResources/Over-the-CounterOTCDrugs/StatusofOTCRulemakings/ucm072140.htm

External links

• WebBook page for ethyl nitrite

v t e Alkyl nitrites ("Poppers") Amyl nitrite (isoamyl nitrite, isopentyl nitrite) Butyl nitrite Cyclohexyl nitrite Ethyl nitrite Hexyl nitrite Isobutyl nitrite (2-methylpropyl nitrite) Isopropyl nitrite Methyl nitrite