Final answer:
Nitrites are used in medical treatments in tablet form or potentially as a liquid or syrup. Sodium nitrite is notably used to preserve meats like bacon. In agriculture, nitrates, not nitrites, are commonly used as soluble fertilizers to improve plant growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nitrites are chemical compounds that are used in various applications, including medical and food preservation. As a medical treatment, nitrites can be found in the form of tablets or sometimes as a solution that could be further processed into a liquid or syrup form. These nitrite-based medications are utilized for conditions such as heart problems, where they act as vasodilators to improve blood flow. Sodium nitrite is an example of a nitrite compound that has been traditionally used as a preservative for meats like bacon. When discussing fertilizers, the term nitrates is more common, wherein nitrogen-rich compounds such as NO3 (nitrates) are employed to enhance plant growth due to their solubility and ease of uptake by plants.
It is important to note that nitrites and nitrates can be hazardous as they are capable of explosion under certain conditions and most are soluble in water. Phosphorus oxyacids and salts, similarly, are compounds containing nitrogen that are utilized in various agricultural and industrial contexts. Care is required in handling these substances due to their reactive nature and potential environmental impact.