Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) has been used throughout the course of history to produce propellant for firearms (gunpowder) since the late Middle Ages. Saltpeter is still used in the creation of gunpowder and fuses. more »

Ancient civilizations through current day have used saltpeter for kindling by rubbing two sticks together. Black powder is another form of saltpeter. Recipes go all the way back to Greece and 15th century Germany. Saltpeter is also used for gun cotton, dynamite fuses and is for oxidation. Naturally forming, saltpeter can be relatively easy to make, as long as you have the ingredients. more »

Saltpeter, or potassium nitrate, is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is used as a fertilizer and explosive, according to Princeton's WordNetWeb online. more »

Saltpeter, also known as potassium nitrate, is an explosive substance used as a tree stump killer; an element in bombs, gunpowder and fertilizer; and a food additive. Because of its properties, it can be a key ingredient in several fun science experiments. more »

Potassium nitrate, also called "niter" and "saltpeter," has a long and very interesting history. It is used in fertilizers and warfare, and to also quell the male libido. more »

Saltpeter is a common name for potassium nitrate (KNO3) that comes from the term "Salt of Petra" that was used in the Middle Ages. It is commonly available and is mined in commercial quantities as the mineral "nitre." Potassium nitrate is best known for its use in fertilizer and gunpowder but it also has a range of other applications. Chemistry students commonly encounter potassium nitrate in the laboratory as a reagent and may also prepare it as an end product. more »

Sodium nitrate is a white, odorless chemical compound having cubic crystals. It also is known as Chile saltpeter or Peru saltpeter. Sodium nitrate, found in large natural deposits, is similar to potassium nitrate in most of its chemical properties and physical appearance. It can be produced synthetically to some extent during chlorine production, in which sodium nitrate is obtained as a byproduct. more »

Also known as saltpeter, potassium nitrate has many uses. The substance is essential for producing gun powder and fireworks. Potassium nitrate also appears as an ingredient in many fertilizers, and food manufacturers often employ potassium nitrate as a food preservative. more »

Smoke bombs are the safest and easiest pyrotechnics you can make. There are many homemade recipes, but one of the most effective ones is to mix saltpeter and sugar. It will work if you just mix the ingredients, but if you melt and stir them they will combine more effectively and give you a better smoke bomb. The most important thing is to heat the ingredients slowly to avoid setting them on fire accidentally. Start by making a small test batch. more »