Indeed. One of the classic traps in sophomore organic courses is the nitration of benzene to nitro benzene that requires NO2+ (made from nitric acid and sulfuric acid). Students will often reach for NaNO2 since the NO2 is “right there” not realizing that nitrite is NO2-. The electrons make all the difference.
I had to look that one up. It’s getting on toward 50 years since I took organic chemistry.