Sodium nitrate
General Product Information
| Article | Sodium nitrate |
| Synonyms | Peru saltpeter, Soda niter, Cubic niter |
| CAS No. | 7631-99-4 |
| EEG No. | – |
| EINECS No. | 231-554-3 |
| IMO | Class 5.1 |
| Tariff Code | 310250 |
| UN No. | 1498 |
| VLG/ADR | Class 5.1, Packing Group III |
Description
Sodium nitrate is an inorganic salt that occurs naturally in deposits in arid regions, such as Chile and Peru. It is extracted commercially or produced synthetically. It is a white, crystalline powder that is highly soluble in water and is known for its strong oxidizing effect. This property makes sodium nitrate widely applicable in industrial processes .
Characteristics
- Odor: Odorless.
- Hygroscopic: Yes.
- Color: White to Colorless.
- Grade: Technical.
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water.
- Shape: Crystalline powder.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | NaNO3 |
| Molar Weight | 84.99 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 308 °C |
| Boiling Point | 380 °C (decomposition) |
| Density | 2.26 g/cm³ |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH. | Approx. 7 (at 5% solution). |
Applications
Sodium nitrate is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Agriculture
As a fertilizer because of its high nitrogen content and rapid solubility. It provides readily available nitrate nitrogen for crops .
2. Water Treatment
In biological systems for nitrate dosing at denitrification processes in wastewater treatment.
3. Metal Industry
Used in heat treatment baths for soldering, tempering and hardening steel.
4. Glass & Ceramics Industry
Promotes oxidation processes and color stability in glass and ceramics.
Interessing Links
- CAS Common Chemistry – Sodium Nitrate
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- PubChem – Sodium Nitrate – Chemical information by the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia – Sodium nitrate