Page 142 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

AMYL NITRITE

Interesting Facts

• Although isoamyl nitrite that the U.S. government
has legitimate industrial passed a ban on the sale of
and medical uses, it is poppers in 1991, except for
probably best known as a certain specific purposes.
recreational drug called The ban has not eliminated
‘‘poppers.’’ The name comes the use of isoamyl nitrite
from a popping sound that as a recreational drug,
occurs when a bottle of since people can still buy
the liquid is opened. The the compound for one of
health consequences of its permitted uses.
using poppers are such

unpleasant smells that may accumulate in a space. Some
people who purchase these room deodorizers or perfumes
actually use them as recreational drugs.
An important industrial application of the amyl nitrites
is in the production of diazonium compounds. Diazonium
compounds contain a characteristic -N=N- grouping and con-
stitute an important family of dyes.
The health risks associated with the use of the amyl
nitrites arise because they act as vasodilators. As blood ves-
sels expand and blood flow increases after inhalation of amyl
nitrites, blood rushes to the head, and a person may become
dizzy and light-headed. These symptoms may provide a ‘‘rush’’

Words to Know

DISTILLATION A process of separating two or but different structural formulas and
more substances by boiling the mixture of different chemical and physical properties.
which they are composed and condensing the
VASODILATOR Drug that causes blood
vapors produced at different temperatures.
vessels to relax and expand.
ISOMERS Two or more forms of a chemical
compound with the same molecular formula,

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 91