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sodium nitrate

American  

noun

Chemistry.
  1. a crystalline, water-soluble compound, NaNO 3 , that occurs naturally as soda niter: used in fertilizers, explosives, and glass, and as a color fixative in processed meats.


sodium nitrate British  

noun

  1. a white crystalline soluble solid compound occurring naturally as Chile saltpetre and caliche and used in matches, explosives, and rocket propellants, as a fertilizer, and as a curing salt for preserving food such as bacon, ham, and cheese ( E251 ). Formula: NaNO 3

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sodium nitrate Scientific  
  1. A poisonous, white, crystalline compound used in solid rocket propellants, in matches, as a fertilizer, and in curing meat. Chemical formula: NaNO 3 .


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are more than 300 chemicals on the list, including substances like chlorine and sodium nitrate.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 4, 2023

The container had on board confiscated "high explosive materials," including sodium nitrate.

From Fox News • Aug. 4, 2020

The number of moles and the mass of sodium nitrate, NaNO3, required to produce 128 g of oxygen.

From Textbooks • Feb. 14, 2019

The chosen type of salt was a combination of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate, which retains 99% of the heat for up to 24 hours.

From Forbes • Jul. 5, 2011

From the difference in weight the soda can be calculated, sodium nitrate having been formed.

From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by Sanford, P. Gerald (Percy Gerald)