Properties Uses and Facts about Potassium Nitrate
What is Potassium Nitrate
Potassium nitrate, also known as saltpeter, is an inorganic compound, a
white, odorless, crystalline solid. The chemical formula of potassium
nitrate is KNO3, its molecule contains one atom of
potassium, one atom of
nitrogen
and three atoms of
oxygen. It is an excellent source of
nitrogen
and
oxygen. It is a strong oxidizing substance, which decomposes on heating and
releases
oxygen. It is an ionic salt of
potassium
ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3-, so it is an alkali metal nitrate. Potassium
nitrate is found in nature as a mineral called Niter.
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| Potassium Nitrate Properties Uses and Facts |
Properties of Potassium Nitrate
- Potassium nitrate has a density of 2.11 grams per cubic centimeter.
- The melting point of potassium nitrate is 334 °C and its boiling point is 400 °C.
- Potassium nitrate dissolves in hot water, but does not dissolve well in cold water.
- When potassium nitrate is dissolved in water, an endothermic reaction occurs, which lowers the temperature of the mixture.
- On heating potassium nitrate it decomposes and produces nitrite and oxygen.
- It is not flammable, but when potassium nitrate is added to combustible materials, it accelerates their burning process.
- It may explode upon prolonged exposure to heat or fire.
- Burning of potassium nitrate produces toxic oxides of nitrogen.
- Potassium nitrate is not poisonous.
Uses of Potassium Nitrate
- Potassium nitrate is used as a fertilizer, it contains all the micronutrients required by plants.
- Potassium nitrate is used as an oxidizer, it is added to burning articles like cigarettes and incense sticks, so that they burn completely without extinguishing.
- In the olden times, potassium nitrate was added as an oxidizer to gunpowder called blackpowder.
- Potassium nitrate is used as an oxidizer in many types of explosives, gunpowder, gunpowder and firecrackers.
- It is used in the food industry to prevent spoilage of meat.
- It is widely used for the preservation of leather in the leather industry.
- It was also used in ancient times to produce nitric acid.
- Potassium nitrate is also used in the manufacture of many types of medicines such as: - It is used in the manufacture of diuretic medicines, it is added to toothpaste to reduce the sensitivity of sensitive teeth.
Health Precautions
- Excessive exposure to potassium nitrate can cause eye and skin irritation.
- Ingestion of potassium nitrate when inhaled can cause nasal irritation, which can cause sneezing, phlegm and cough. Prolonged exposure to it can cause pulmonary edema, This is a medical emergency in which fluid builds up in the lungs, and can lead to lung failure, in severe cases, leading to death.
- High concentrations of potassium nitrate in the blood can affect the blood's ability to carry oxygen, causing symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, and blue skin and blue lips.
Facts about Potassium Nitrate
- Potassium nitrate occurs naturally as the mineral niter in rocks in various parts of India, South Africa and Brazil.
- In ancient times it was used to reduce high blood pressure.
- Potassium nitrate is produced commercially by reacting nitric acid (HNO3) and potassium chloride (KCl) at high temperature:- 3KCl + 4HNO3 → 3KNO3 + Cl2 + NOCl + 2H2O.
Detailed Information on Some other Compounds
- Zinc Nitrate Properties Uses and other Details
- Aluminium Nitride Properties Uses and other Details
- Hydroiodic acid Properties Uses and other Details
- Dinitrogen Pentoxide Properties Uses and other Details
- Iodic Acid HIO3 Properties Uses and other Details
- Phosphine (PH3) Properties Uses and other information
- Ethanol Properties Uses and Other Details
- Potassium Cyanide | Properties | Uses | Other Details
- Sodium Hydroxide | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Methane Gas | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Ammonia | Properties | Uses | and Facts
- Sulfuric Acid H2SO4 | Properties | Uses | and Facts
- Nitric Acid HNO3 | Properties | Uses | and Facts
- Hydrochloric Acid HCL | Properties | Uses | and Facts
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