Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Nitrous acid is a weak acid that only partially ionizes in water, resulting in the release of fewer hydrogen ions compared to nitric acid. It forms hydronium ions (H3O+) and nitrite ions (NO2-) when dissolved in water.
A weak acid does not completely dissociate in water, meaning it releases only a fraction of its hydrogen ions. Examples include acetic acid (CH3COOH) and carbonic acid (H2CO3).
Partial Ionization: The incomplete separation of an acid into ions when dissolved in water. Nitrous acid partially ionizes, resulting in the formation of H3O+ and NO2- ions.
A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Nitrous acid has a lower pH than nitric acid because it produces fewer hydrogen ions when dissolved in water.