Sodium Nitrate Information

Sodium nitrate, or saltpeter, has been a common ingredient in explosives.

Sodium nitrate is a reactive chemical with many applications in industry. It is also known as Chile saltpeter or Peru saltpeter, after the countries where it was first mined. Nowadays it can be synthetically produced.

Properties

In its pure form, sodium nitrate is a clear, colorless, odorless, soluble salt. Its chemical symbol is NaNO3 and its chemical weight is 85 g/mol.

Applications

Sodium nitrate is used in solid rocket fuel, in wastewater treatment and as a food preservative. It is used with sulfuric acid to produce nitric acid, an important chemical in industry. In the 19th century, it was a very common ingredient in explosives and fertilizers. The War of the Pacific (1879-1883), or the Saltpeter War, was fought between Chile and an alliance of Peru and Bolivia over rich mineral deposits containing sodium and potassium nitrate.

Dangers

As it is a powerful oxidizing agent, sodium nitrate must be handled carefully. Nitrates are a natural component of the human diet and are found in green vegetables; however, as a preservative in processed meat, it has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.

References

• Iowa State University: Material Safety Data Sheet
• FAO/WHO Food Additives Report
• World Cancer Research Fund: Ask the Nutritionist
• Country Studies: Chile - War of the Pacific, 1879-83

Resources

• Journal of Chemical Education: Some History of Nitrates