saltpeter
Definition
Noun: 1. Potassium nitrate: A white crystalline compound with the chemical formula KNO₃. It occurs naturally and is used primarily as a fertilizer, in food preservation, and in the manufacture of explosives and fireworks.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- Historically, saltpeter was a key ingredient in gunpowder.
- Farmers sometimes use saltpeter as a source of nitrogen for crops.
- The process of curing meat often involves saltpeter.
Advanced Usage
- "Chile saltpeter": This term refers to sodium nitrate (NaNO₃), a different but related compound also used as a fertilizer. It is important to distinguish it from true saltpeter (potassium nitrate).
- Chile saltpeter was a major export product in the 19th century.
Variants and Related Words
- Saltpetre: The British English spelling of "saltpeter".
- Niter: Another name for potassium nitrate, especially in mineralogical contexts.
- Potassium nitrate: The systematic chemical name.
Synonyms
- Niter (or nitre)
- Potassium nitrate
- Saltpetre (UK spelling)
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Saltpeter works: A historical term for a place where saltpeter was extracted or manufactured.
- The old saltpeter works can still be seen on the hillside.
Noun
-
(KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive
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