Nitrite
class of chemical compounds, salts and esters of nitrous acid, HONO
Nitrite is an ion. Its chemical formula is NO2–. It contains nitrogen in its +3 oxidation state. Nitrites are normally strong oxidizing agents. Most of them are colorless crystalline compounds. Sodium nitrite is a common nitrite. They are also weak reducing agents, being oxidized to nitrates (NO3–).
![](http://up.wiki.x.io/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Nitrite-ion-canonical-structures.png/370px-Nitrite-ion-canonical-structures.png)