Dinitrogen pentoxide

dinitrogen pentoxide

Dinitrogen pentoxide, N₂O₅, is formed from the reaction of the nitrate radical with nitrogen dioxide.

It is, however, thermally unstable and is dissociated readily near the earth's surface to form its precursors. Higher in the atmosphere, it is an effective reservoir for active nitrogen. In solution it hydrolyzes to two nitric acid molecules. Removal of N₂O₅ on aqueous particles occurs very easily, causing an increase in acidity and a loss of active nitrogen (NO + NO₂).

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(Also known as odd nitrogen species.) Reactive forms of nitrogen comprising nitric oxide, NO, and nitrogen dioxide, NO₂; usually designated by [[NO_x]].
These oxides of are responsible for ozone formation in the troposphere and play a major part in ozone loss in the stratosphere. The major sources of active nitrogen in the atmosphere are combustion, soil emissions, lightning, and the reaction of nitrous oxide with excited oxygen atoms in the stratosphere.