Potassium Nitrate (INS 252)

Potassium nitrate is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_compound" title="Chemical compound" >chemical compound</a> with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_formula" title="Chemical formula" >formula</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium" title="Potassium" >K</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen" title="Nitrogen" >N</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen" title="Oxygen" >O</a>3. It is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionic_salt" title="Ionic salt" class="mw-redirect" >ionic salt</a> of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_ion" title="Potassium ion" class="mw-redirect" >potassium ions</a> K+ and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrate_ion" title="Nitrate ion" class="mw-redirect" >nitrate ions</a>NO3−.

It occurs as a mineral <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niter" title="Niter" >niter</a> and is a natural solid source of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen" title="Nitrogen" >nitrogen</a>. Potassium nitrate is one of several nitrogen-containing compounds collectively referred to as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltpeter_(disambiguation)" title="Saltpeter (disambiguation)" >saltpeter</a>.

Major uses of potassium nitrate are in fertilizers, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive" title="Food additive" >food additive</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_propellant" title="Rocket propellant" >rocket propellants</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firework" title="Firework" class="mw-redirect" >fireworks</a>; it is one of the constituents of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder" title="Gunpowder" >gunpowder</a>.

<h3 >Fertilizer</h3>

Potassium nitrate is mainly used in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer" title="Fertilizer" >fertilizers</a>, as a source of nitrogen and potassium – two of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_nutrition" title="Plant nutrition" >macronutrients</a> for plants. When used by itself, it has an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NPK_rating" title="NPK rating" >NPK rating</a> of 13-0-44.

<h3 >[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potassium_nitrate&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Oxidizer" >edit</a>]Oxidizer</h3>

Potassium nitrate is an efficient oxidizer, producing a lilac-colored flame upon burning due to the presence of potassium. It is one of the three components of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_powder" title="Black powder" class="mw-redirect" >black powder</a>, along with powdered charcoal (substantially carbon) and sulfur, both of which act as fuels in this composition.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-Agrawal2010-10" >[11]</a> As such it is used in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_powder_rocket_motor" title="Black powder rocket motor" >black powder rocket motors</a>, but also in combination with other fuels like sugars in "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_candy" title="Rocket candy" >rocket candy</a>". It is also used in fireworks such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_bomb" title="Smoke bomb" >smoke bombs</a>, made with a mixture of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose" title="Sucrose" >sucrose</a> and potassium nitrate.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-11" >[12]</a> It is also added to pre-rolled cigarettes to maintain an even burn of the tobacco<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-12" >[13]</a> and is used to ensure complete combustion of<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paper_cartridge" title="Paper cartridge" >paper cartridges</a> for cap and ball revolvers.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-Kirst-13" >[14]</a>

<h3 >[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potassium_nitrate&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Food preservation" >edit</a>]Food preservation</h3>

In the process of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_preservation" title="Food preservation" >food preservation</a>, potassium nitrate has been a common ingredient of salted meat since the<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages" title="Middle Ages" >Middle Ages</a>,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-14" >[15]</a> but its use has been mostly discontinued due to inconsistent results compared to more modern nitrate and nitrite compounds. Even so, saltpeter is still used in some food applications, such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcuterie" title="Charcuterie" >charcuterie</a> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brine" title="Brine" >brine</a> used to make <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corned_beef" title="Corned beef" >corned beef</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-15" >[16]</a>

<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrate" title="Sodium nitrate" >Sodium nitrate</a> (and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_nitrite" title="Sodium nitrite" >nitrite</a>) have mostly supplanted potassium nitrate's culinary usage, as they are more reliable in preventing bacterial infection than saltpetre. All three give cured <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salami" title="Salami" >salami</a> and corned beef their characteristic pink hue. When used as a food additive in the European Union,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-16" >[17]</a> the compound is referred to as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_number" title="E number" >E252</a>; it is also approved for use as a food additive in the USA<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-17" >[18]</a> and Australia and New Zealand<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-18" >[19]</a> (where it is listed under its INS number 252).

<h3 >[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potassium_nitrate&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Other uses" >edit</a>]Other uses</h3>

<ul >

<li >as the main solid particle component of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condensed_aerosol_fire_suppression" title="Condensed aerosol fire suppression" >condensed aerosol fire suppression</a> systems. When burned with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_radical" title="Free radical" class="mw-redirect" >free radicals</a> of a fire's flame, it produces <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_carbonate" title="Potassium carbonate" >potassium carbonate</a>.</li>

<li >as the main component (usually about 98%) of some tree stump remover products. It accelerates the natural decomposition of the stump by supplying nitrogen for the fungi attacking the wood of the stump.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-19" >[20]</a></li>

<li >for the heat treatment of metals as a solvent in the post-wash. The oxidizing, water solubility and low cost make it an ideal short-term rust inhibitor.</li>

<li >also used as mango flower inducer in the Philippines.</li>

<li >as a thermal storage medium. Sodium and potassium nitrate salts are stored in molten state with the solar energy collected by the heliostats at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torresol_Energy" title="Torresol Energy" >GEMASOLAR Thermosolar</a> Plant in Spain. Ternary salts, with the addition of calcium nitrate or lithium nitrate, improve the heat storage capacity in the molten salts<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-20" >[21]</a></li>

</ul>

<h3 >[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Potassium_nitrate&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Pharmacology" >edit</a>]Pharmacology</h3>

<ul >

<li >Used in some <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothpaste" title="Toothpaste" >toothpastes</a> for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentine_hypersensitivity" title="Dentine hypersensitivity" >sensitive teeth</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-Sensodyne-21" >[22]</a> Recently, the use of potassium nitrate in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toothpaste" title="Toothpaste" >toothpastes</a> for treating sensitive teeth has increased and it may be an effective treatment.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-22" >[23]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-23" >[24]</a></li>

<li >Used in some toothpastes to relieve asthma symptoms. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-24" >[25]</a></li>

<li >Used historically to treat asthma as well as arthritis.[<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed" >citation needed</a>]</li>

<li >Combats high blood pressure and was once used as a hypotensive.</li>

</ul>

Potassium nitrate was once thought to induce <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impotence" title="Impotence" class="mw-redirect" >impotence</a>, and is still falsely rumored to be in institutional food (such as military fare) as an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphrodisiac" title="Anaphrodisiac" >anaphrodisiac</a>; however, there is no scientific evidence for such properties.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-Straight_Dope-25" >[26]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_nitrate#cite_note-26" >[27]</a>

Potassium Nitrate (INS 252)

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