How to check level of Nitirite in water ?

Question

Hi,

How do i check level of Nitirite in water ? I am looking for some cheaper and easy method.

Thanks.

Answer 1

If you go to your local pet store they should have water test strips. You can check nitrate, nitrite, alkalinity, hardness and ph, among other things.

Answer 2

I think you ought to take the previous poster's advice and follow it, just buy the nitrite test strips from the pet store. It is by far the easiest method.

In acid solution, the nitrite anion decomposes to NO2 gas. This is a brown stinky fuming gas...unfortunately the nitrite will not be at high enough concentrations to cause a visible reaction. It reduces potassium permanganate in acid solution, which would cause the purple colour to disappear...but again, this would not be observable due to low concentrations. Finally, it produces iodine gas from acidified solutions of KI...but you'll never observe it.

Basically, the chromotropic reagent in the test strips produces an easily observable result, whereas the others do not. That's why you need to go with the test strips.