Nitric oxide facts for kids
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Nitric oxide, also known as nitrogen monoxide, is a special chemical compound. It is made up of nitrogen and oxygen atoms. Its chemical formula is NO, which means it has one nitrogen atom and one oxygen atom joined together. This gas is very important in both nature and our own bodies.
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What is Nitric Oxide Like?
Nitric oxide is a gas that you cannot see or smell; it is colorless. It reacts easily with the air around us. When it mixes with air, it quickly changes into another gas called nitrogen dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide is a brown gas that can be harmful. Nitric oxide can also react with air and water to form a weak acid called nitrous acid. A cool fact about nitric oxide is that it can glow when it reacts with ozone, which is a gas found in the Earth's atmosphere.
How is Nitric Oxide Made?
Nitric oxide is made in several ways. One common way is by reacting ammonia gas with oxygen. This process needs a special helper called a catalyst to make the reaction happen faster.
Nature also makes nitric oxide! It is created in small amounts during lightning strikes in thunderstorms. You can also make a little bit of nitric oxide in a lab by mixing copper metal with nitric acid. Another way is by changing nitrous acid using other chemicals, like iron(II) sulfate.
What is Nitric Oxide Used For?
Nitric oxide has a few important uses.
Making Nitric Acid
One big use for nitric oxide is in making nitric acid. Nitric acid is a strong acid used in many industries. To make it, ammonia gas is first reacted with air to create nitric oxide. Then, this nitric oxide is mixed with more air to turn it into nitrogen dioxide. Finally, the nitrogen dioxide is dissolved in water to produce nitric acid. This process also creates more nitric oxide, which can be used again.
In Your Body
Nitric oxide is also very important inside the human body. It acts like a tiny messenger molecule. Scientists are still learning about all the things it does, but we know it helps with many body functions. For example, it helps blood vessels relax and widen, which improves blood flow. This is important for your heart and overall health. It also plays a role in your brain and immune system.
Is Nitric Oxide Safe?
It is important to be careful with nitric oxide. If you breathe in too much of it, it can be harmful. Also, remember that nitric oxide easily changes into nitrogen dioxide when it mixes with air. Nitrogen dioxide is a toxic brown gas that can make it hard to breathe. Because of this, nitric oxide needs to be handled with care.
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Óxido de nitrógeno(II) para niños
