Nitrogen-tracer experiments on the reaction of hydrazine with an excess of nitrous acid

Abstract

Mass-spectrometric analysis of the dinitrogen and dinitrogen monoxide evolved from the reaction between [¹⁵N₂H₅]⁺ and excess of HNO₂ are consistent with scrambling occurring between two nitrogens of hydrazine and one nitrogen of nitrous acid. A cyclic form of hydrazoic acid is postulated as a reaction intermediate, although other explanations are possible. At low acidities, pH 3.7, substantial yields of ammonia and N₂O are formed. This would be expected to disturb the pattern of tracer distribution in the evolved gases, but in fact the isotopic results were virtually the same as at higher acidities.