You always get a little bubbling from this reaction but it represents only a small part of the overal product that is decomposed. The gas is mainly
nitrous oxide which is practically odourless, the smell you detect is probably the minute aerosol droplets of sulphuric acid dispersed by the bursting
bubbles at the liquid surface. Just carry on and pour the finished reaction mixture into iced water and recover your product the de-gassing is a minor
side reaction if you keep the temperature low. |