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.

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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

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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 .

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Example Sentences

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

From Seattle Times

The actor, known for his role in the film "Our Idiot Brother," died of complications of sodium nitrate toxicity, the Lancaster County Coroner's Office in Pennsylvania confirmed to Fox News.

From Fox News

"So I'll add salt and sodium nitrate and make a kind of prosciutto out of it, which is aged, or I'll just cure it and smoke it, which is absolutely delicious."

From Salon

Department of Agriculture regulations, that claim is permitted if the meat is cured with natural sources of nitrates/nitrites, such as celery, instead of synthetic ones, such as sodium nitrate or nitrite.

From Washington Post

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

From Fox News