Final answer:
NH4Cl (ammonium chloride) can turn NaNO2 into N2 upon heating due to a thermal decomposition reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chemical that might turn NaNO2 into N2 is NH4Cl (ammonium chloride). When NaNO2 (sodium nitrite) is mixed with NH4Cl, it undergoes a thermal decomposition reaction upon heating.
This reaction produces nitrogen gas (N2), water, and sodium chloride (NaCl) as products.
This reaction is commonly used in a laboratory setting to produce nitrogen gas.
HNO3 (nitric acid) and H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) are both acids that would not typically react with NaNO2 to produce N2 directly.
Instead, they could contribute to an acidic environment, which could alter the form of nitrogen compounds present but is not directly responsible for the formation of N2 gas.
NaCl (sodium chloride) is a neutral salt and does not react with NaNO2 to produce nitrogen gas.