Nitrite decomposition products were studied in a flooded soil suspension maintained under different pH and redox potential conditions. The effect of a sterilant, HgCl2, on nitrite breakdown was also investigated. Soil suspensions were incubated for several days with the pH maintained at 4.5, 6, and 8 and the redox potential maintained at 0 and + 200 mV. Nitrite was then added to the suspensions and the decomposition products were determined by mass spectrometry.Under acid conditions significant amounts of N2 and nitrogen oxide gases (N2O, NO) were formed in both the moderately reduced (+200 mV) and reduced (0 mV) suspensions. At higher pH's the nitrite reduction rate was slightly less and the amounts of nitrogen oxide gases formed were considerably less with N2 being the major product. The chemical sterilant decreased the conversion of nitrite to N2 and markedly increased the formation of NO. The significant production of NO under acid conditions both with and without the sterilant, suggests the likelihood of self‐decomposition of nitrous acid as a major mechanism of nitrite loss.