Urea and sodium nitrite are generally viewed as nitridation additives in the electrolyte for plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of aluminum alloys. We study the influences of these two convenient chemicals in presence of sodium aluminate and find very different effects on film growth. Urea addition enhances the nitrogen content of PEO layer, diminishes the layer thickness, increases the porosity, interferes with the alpha-alumina formation, and promotes precipitation in the electrolyte. Hence, the electrolytic urea content ought to be maintained less than 45 g dm(-3). On the other hand, sodium nitrite behaves like an oxidation additive, more than a nitridation additive. NaNO2 addition effectively introduces nitrogen in the PEO layer at low concentration, yet the nitrogen content of oxide layer decreases with increasing NaNO2 concentration. The effects of NaNO2, such as increasing layer thickness, reducing porosity, promoting alpha-alumina formation are attributed to oxidation enhancement, not because of nitridation. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.