Formation of N2O during thermal decomposition of d-metal hydrates nitrates

It was found that during thermal decomposition of hydrates of d-metal nitrates nitrous oxide (N2O) is always present among the other gaseous products: H2O, HNO3, NO, NO2 and O2. In all studied decomposition reactions the nitrous oxide formed contains approximately 5–8% of total nitrogen coming from nitrate. Two new mechanisms of N2O formation, based on the reaction between NO or NO2 and nitrate ion, have been proposed. The discussed third possible mechanism: (a) 2NO = N2O2 and (b) N2O2 + NO = N2O + NO2 is unlikely.