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Potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate
Names IUPAC name
Potassium nitrate
Other names
  • Saltpeter
  • Saltpetre
  • Indian Saltpetre
  • Nitrate of potash
  • Nitre
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard100.028.926EC Number
  • 231-818-8
E numberE252 (preservatives)KEGG
RTECS number
  • TT3700000
UNII
UN number1486
  • InChI=1S/K.NO3/c;2-1(3)4/q+1;-1
    Key: FGIUAXJPYTZDNR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/K.NO3/c;2-1(3)4/q+1;-1
    Key: FGIUAXJPYTZDNR-UHFFFAOYAM
  • [K+].[O-][N+]([O-])=O
Properties KNO3Molar mass101.102 g·mol Appearance white solid Odorodorless Density2.109 g/cm (16 °C (61 °F; 289 K)) Melting point334 °C (633 °F; 607 K) Boiling point400 °C (752 °F; 673 K) (decomposes)
  • 133 g/L (0 °C (32 °F; 273 K))
  • 316 g/L (20 °C (68 °F; 293 K))
  • 383 g/L (25 °C (77 °F; 298 K))
  • 2439 g/L (100 °C (212 °F; 373 K))
Solubilityslightly soluble in ethanol
soluble in glycerol, ammoniaBasicity (pKb) 15.3 −33.7×10 cm/mol
  • 1.335
  • 1.5056
  • 1.5604
Structure Orthorhombic, AragoniteThermochemistry 95.06 J⋅mol·K−494.00 kJ⋅molHazards GHS labelling: WarningH272P210, P220, P221, P280, P370+P378, P501NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
1
1
2
OX
Flash pointnon-flammable (oxidizer) Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
  • 1901 mg/kg (oral, rabbit)
  • 3750 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Safety data sheet (SDS) ICSC 0184Related compounds
Other anions
Potassium nitrite
Other cations
Related compounds
Supplementary data page Potassium nitrate (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with a sharp, salty, bitter taste and the chemical formulaKNO3. It is a potassiumsalt of nitric acid. This salt consists of potassium cationsK and nitrateanionsNO−3, and is therefore an alkali metal nitrate. It occurs in nature as a mineral, nitre (or niter in the United States). It is a source of nitrogen, and nitrogen was named after niter. Potassium nitrate is one of several nitrogen-containing compounds collectively referred to as saltpetre (or saltpeter in American English).

Major uses of potassium nitrate are in fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants and fireworks. It is one of the major constituents of traditional gunpowder (black powder). In processed meats, potassium nitrate reacts with hemoglobin and myoglobin generating a red color.

Wikipedia source