Peroxyacetyl nitrate
| Names | |
|---|---|
| Preferred IUPAC name Acetic nitric peroxyanhydride | |
| Other names PAN peroxyacetyl nitrate α-oxoethylperoxylnitrate | |
| Identifiers | |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
| Abbreviations | PAN | 
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.017.187 | 
| EC Number | 
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| PubChem CID | |
| UNII | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| 
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| 
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| Properties | |
| C2H3NO5 | |
| Molar mass | 121.05 g mol−1 | 
| 1.46 × 10 5 mg l−1 at 298 K | |
| log P | −0.19 | 
| Vapor pressure | 29.2 mmHg at 298 K | 
| Henry's law constant (kH) | 0.000278 m3 atm mol−1 at 298 K | 
| Atmospheric OH rate constant | 10−13 cm3 molecule−1 s−1 at 298 K | 
| Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references | |
Peroxyacetyl nitrate is a peroxyacyl nitrate. It is a secondary pollutant present in photochemical smog. It is thermally unstable and decomposes into peroxyethanoyl radicals and nitrogen dioxide gas. It is a lachrymatory substance, meaning that it irritates the lungs and eyes.
Peroxyacetyl nitrate, or PAN, is an oxidant that is more stable than ozone. Hence, it is more capable of long-range transport than ozone. It serves as a carrier for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) into rural regions and causes ozone formation in the global troposphere.