Some Common Nitrates

Potassium Nitrate

The common name of potassium nitrate is Bengal salt petre or nitre. It can be prepared by treating the oxide, hydroxide, carbonate or hydrogen carbonate salts of potassium with nitric acid.

It is a colorless crystalline solid, soluble in water. When heated, it first melts and then decomposes to give potassium nitrite and oxygen.

uses:

*Potassium nitrate is used in the preparation of gun powder (mixture of charcoal, sulphur and *potassium nitrate) and other explosives. When gun powder is ignited, it explodes.

*It is also used in salting and pickling of meats, to which it imparts a red color.

*It is used in pyrotechnics and also as a fertilizer.

Sodium Nitrate

The common name of sodium nitrate is "Chile salt Petre". It is found in large quantity in Chile in South America. It can be prepared by treating the oxide, hydroxide, carbonate or hydrogen carbonate salts of sodium with nitric acid.

It is a colorless crystalline solid, highly soluble in water. When heated, just like the potassium salt, it melts and then decomposes to give sodium nitrite and oxygen.

Sodium nitrate is slightly deliquescent and gets wet. Hence it cannot be used in making gun powder like the potassium salt.

Uses

When dry sodium nitrate is mixed with charcoal, sulphur etc. and ignited or heated, it catches fire and burns very vigorously. Hence it is used in fire works to a limited extent.

It is used as a fertilizer.

It is used in the manufacturing of nitric acid etc.

Magnesium Nitrate

Magnesium nitrate is prepared by treating magnesium, or its oxide or hydroxide or carbonate salt with dilute nitric acid.

It is a colorless, deliquescent solid, highly soluble in water.

When heated it decomposes to form the oxide, nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.

Zinc Nitrate

Zinc nitrate is prepared by dissolving zinc, or its oxide, hydroxide or carbonate salt in dilute nitric acid.

Zinc nitrate is a colorless solid, very deliquescent and highly soluble in water.

When heated it decomposes as follows:

Lead Nitrate

Lead nitrate is prepared by dissolving lead, or its oxide or carbonate salt in dilute nitric acid.

Lead nitrate is a colorless crystalline solid, soluble in water. It decrepitates when heated and decomposes as follows:

Uses

It is used in explosives.

Copper Nitrate

Copper nitrate is prepared by dissolving copper, or its oxide or carbonate salt in nitric acid.

Copper nitrate is a blue deliquescent crystalline solid, containing three molecules of water of crystallisation. It is highly soluble in water and in alcohol.

When heated it decomposes as follows:

Silver Nitrate

Silver nitrate is called lunar caustic. It is prepared by dissolving silver in warm, moderately dilute nitric acid.

Silver nitrate is a colorless crystalline solid, soluble in water and alcohol. It is corrosive in nature. When heated it decomposes in two stages.

Uses

It is used in photography.

It is used in silvering mirrors.

It is used in making marking ink etc.

Ammonium Nitrate

Ammonium nitrate is prepared by treating ammonia or ammonium hydroxide with nitric acid.

It is a colorless crystalline solid, very highly soluble in water. When heated, it first melts and then decomposes as follows:

Uses

Ammonium nitrate is used in pyrotechnics

It is used in freezing mixture.

It is a good fertilizer.

It is used as a powerful explosive.

Popular posts from this blog

MaZaYdar ManGOes

Image
Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae Common Names: Mango, Mangot, Manga, Mangou. Related species: Bindjai ( Mangifera caesia ), Horse Mango ( M. foetida ), Kuweni mango ( M. odorata ). Distant affinity: Cashew ( Anacardium occidentale ), Gandaria ( Bouea gandaria ), Pistachio ( Pistacia vera ), Marula ( Sclerocarya birrea ), Ambarella ( Spondias cytherea ), Yellow Mombin ( Spondias mombin ), Red Mombin ( Spondias purpurea ), Imbu ( Spondias tuberosa ). Origin: The mango is native to southern Asia, especially Burma and eastern India. It spread early on to Malaya, eastern Asia and eastern Africa. Mangos were introduced to California (Santa Barbara) in 1880. Forms: The mango exists in two races, one from India and the other from the Philippines and Southeast Asia. The Indian race is intolerant of humidity, has flushes of bright red new growth that are subject to mildew, and bears monoembryonic fruit of high color and regular form. The Philippine race tolerates excess moisture, h
Read more

Organic Fertilizers, Fungicides & Nutrients

Image
Organic fertiliser is obtained from various chemicals. It contains range of nutrients at different ratio, making it effective for plants. These are easily absorbed in plant systems. Organic Fertiliser are available as solid spray dried powder or liquid solution. This powder if fully soluble in water and can be dissolved in water to prepare formulation of required concentration HUMIC ACID: Application of humic acids has several benefits and agriculturists all over the world are accepting humic acids as an integral part of their fertilizer program. Biochemical active and plant responsive humic substance are naturally occurring humic acids. They can be applied directly to the plant foliage in liquid form or to the soil in the form of granules alone or as fertilizer mix. Benefits of Proper Application of Humic Acid increase soil fertility, Increase humus contents, Effectively chelates meta
Read more

Information for Proper fertilization

Proper fertilization is critical to the healthy and vigorous growth of a lawn. While general fertility guidelines can aid in maintaining high quality turfgrass, even the best recommendations are of little value if one cannot accurately apply the fertilizer recommended. In order to intelligently purchase and apply turfgrass fertilizers, one must be able to read and understand a fertilizer label. Many different types of fertilizer are available for use on turfgrass. Complete fertilizers contain nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) and are widely used for turfgrass fertilization. For certain situations, incomplete fertilizers containing some combination of N, P and K, but not all three elements, may be the best choice. Every fertilizer material, whether complete or incomplete, must carry a label stating the guaranteed analysis of the material. The exact label information may vary from state to state, as no uniform countrywide regulations exist; the manufacturer is, however, usu
Read more