What is the chemical formula for the nitrite ion?

The nitrite ion is represented by the formula NO2 with a charge of -1. This indicates that it consists of one nitrogen atom bonded to two oxygen atoms and has an overall negative charge of one due to the presence of an extra electron. This extra electron results in the ion being negatively charged, which is characteristic of many polyatomic ions where the total number of valence electrons surpasses the total number of protons.

The presence of the negative charge signifies that the nitrite ion can act as a reducing agent and participate in various chemical reactions, particularly in biological systems and environmental processes, such as nitrogen cycling. Understanding the charge and structure of nitrite is essential in various applications, including analytical chemistry, environmental science, and chemical engineering.