Comparing E249 - Potassium nitrite vs E251 - Sodium nitrate

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Overview

E249 - Potassium nitrite

Potassium nitrite (E249) is a curing salt used in very small amounts to preserve certain meats and fish. It helps keep dangerous bacteria from growing and gives cured products their familiar pink color and flavor. In the European Union (EU) it is an approved food additive with strict purity and use limits.

E251 - Sodium nitrate

Sodium nitrate (E251) is a preservative used mainly in long-cured meats and a few traditional cheeses. In these foods, it acts as a slow source of nitrite, which helps keep the food safe and keeps the cured color and flavor. When used within regulations, it is considered safe for the general population.

Synonyms

E249

Potassium nitrite

E251

Sodium nitrate

Functions

colour retention agent preservative

preservative

Origins

Synthetic

Mineral

Products

Found in 4 products

Found in 818 products

Search rank & volume

#301630 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#7931K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×10.78

over-aware

×5.52

over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions

How many grams of potassium nitrite are present in 1.48 moles?
Approximately 126 g, using KNO2 molar mass ≈85.1 g/mol (1.48 mol × 85.1 g/mol).
How many grams of potassium nitrite exist in 143 ml of a 2.80 m solution?
If 2.80 M (mol/L) was intended, about 34.1 g (0.143 L × 2.80 mol/L × 85.1 g/mol); if 2.80 m (mol/kg solvent), you need the solvent mass or solution density to determine grams.
How many moles of potassium nitrite kno3 are present in a sample with a mass of 85.2g.?
KNO2 and KNO3 are different: 85.2 g is about 1.00 mol of KNO2 (M≈85.1 g/mol) or about 0.843 mol of KNO3 (M≈101.1 g/mol)—clarify which compound you have.
How to balance potassium nitrite?
Balance equations by equalizing K, N, and O atoms on both sides; for example, the oxidation is 2 KNO2 + O2 → 2 KNO3, which is balanced as written.
How to make a storm glass without potassium nitrite or ammonium chloride?
Use a salt‑free formulation: dissolve camphor in ethanol and add distilled water (e.g., ~10 g camphor in 40 mL ethanol plus ~35–40 mL water), seal tightly; it will form temperature‑responsive crystals, but it’s not a true weather predictor and avoids toxic nitrite salts.