Nitronium ion
The
Nitronium ion, NO
2+, is not stable enough to exist in normal conditions, but it is used extensively in the nitration of other substances. The ion is created
in situ by mixing
sulphuric acid and
nitric acid according to the
equilibrium:
- H2SO4 + HNO3 ↔ HSO4- + NO2+ + H2O
The nitronium ion also exists in the solid form of the
nitrogen oxide N
2O
5, which is an ionic solid formed from nitronium and
nitrate ions. Its liquid and gaseous forms, however, are
molecular and do not contain nitronium ions.
