Page 141 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

AMYL NITRITE

to combine starch with concentrated nitric acid (HNO 3 )to
Amyl nitrite. Red atoms form gaseous nitrous acid. The nitrous acid is then passed
are oxygen; black atoms are
carbon; white atoms are through warm isoamyl alcohol. The compound can also be
hydrogen; and the blue produced by distilling a mixture of potassium nitrite (KNO 2 ),
atom is nitrogen. Gray
isoamyl alcohol, and sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ).
sticks indicate double
bonds. PU BL I S HERS
RESOURCE GRO U P
COMMON USES AND POTENTIAL HAZARDS
The amyl nitrites are used in medicine for the treatment
of pain due to angina, chest pain that occurs because of the
constriction of blood vessels. The compounds cause the blood
vessels to relax, expand, and ease the flow of blood, with a
resulting decrease in chest pain. They are also used by emer-
gency medical providers to treat poisoning by hydrogen
cyanide and hydrogen sulfide gas. The amyl nitrites are
converted in the body to a compound called methemoglobin,
which binds to hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide, redu-
cing their toxic effects.
U.S. law permits the sale of amyl nitrites as additives to
perfumes and for other odorizing purposes. For example,
they may be sold as room deodorizers, to eliminate the

90 CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS