Knowra Potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate (KNO₃) is an ionic compound made of potassium cations and nitrate anions. It occurs naturally as the mineral niter and is used in fertilizers and pyrotechnics.
Nitrate : Nitrate is the polyatomic ion NO₃⁻, composed of one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms. Nitrate anions pair with potassium cations to form KNO₃.
Solubility : Solubility is the maximum amount of a substance that can dissolve in a given amount of solvent under specified conditions. Potassium nitrate dissolves readily in water, and its solubility rises strongly with temperature.
Niter : Niter is the naturally occurring mineral form of potassium nitrate, also called saltpeter. It is the mineral name for naturally occurring KNO₃.
Fertilizer : A fertilizer is a material applied to plants or soil to supply nutrients that support growth. Potassium nitrate supplies plants with both nitrogen and potassium.
Potassium : Potassium is a soft, highly reactive alkali metal with atomic number 19. Potassium supplies the K⁺ cations in potassium nitrate.
Crystallization : Crystallization is the formation of an ordered solid from a solution, melt, or gas. Cooling a hot, concentrated potassium nitrate solution can recover the salt as crystals.
Nitratine : Nitratine is the mineral form of sodium nitrate, NaNO₃. This related nitrate mineral differs from niter by containing sodium instead of potassium.
NPK fertilizer : NPK fertilizer contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients in proportions stated on its label. Potassium nitrate is a source of the nitrogen and potassium in some fertilizer formulations.
Ionic compound : An ionic compound consists of positively and negatively charged ions held together by electrostatic attraction. KNO₃ is an electrically neutral solid assembled from oppositely charged ions.
Thermal decomposition : Thermal decomposition is the breakdown of a compound into simpler substances caused by heating. Strong heating converts potassium nitrate into potassium nitrite and oxygen.
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