Nitrite

Nitrite is a chemical that can be found in lots of things like food and water. It's made up of nitrogen and oxygen atoms.

When we eat certain foods, like hot dogs or bacon, they can contain nitrites. Nitrites help preserve the meat so it doesn't spoil as quickly. This is like when we put food in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for later.

Sometimes, nitrites can be dangerous if we have too much of them. That's why it's important to not eat too many foods with nitrites in them.

In the environment, nitrites can be found in the water. It's important to make sure there aren't too many nitrites in the water we drink or swim in, because too much can be harmful to us and our animal friends.

Overall, nitrites can be helpful in preserving food, but we need to be careful not to have too much of them.