potassium nitrate

noun

Definition of potassium nitrate

: a crystalline salt KNO₃ that occurs as a product of nitrification in arable soils, is a strong oxidizer, and is used especially in making gunpowder, as a fertilizer, and in medicine

Examples of potassium nitrate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For ages, the main ingredients of gunpowder have consisted of sulfur, carbon and potassium nitrate, commonly known as saltpeter. — The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2021 Gunpowder makers in the 14th and 15th centuries used black powder brought to Europe from China, then mixed its three ingredients together one by one: saltpeter (also known as potassium nitrate), charcoal, and sulfur. — Eric Niiler, Wired, 29 Sep. 2021 Stumps of larger vines can be killed by drilling holes and filling with molasses or saltpeter (potassium nitrate). — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 16 Aug. 2021 Homemade smoke bombs are usually made with gunpowder or potassium nitrate, an ingredient in fertilizer. — BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2021 Homemade smoke bombs are usually made with gunpowder or potassium nitrate, an ingredient in fertilizer. — New York Times, 17 Apr. 2021 To keep it from melting, the ice was treated with potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpetre. — Tulasi Srinivas, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020 To keep it from melting, the ice was treated with potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpetre. — Tulasi Srinivas, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020 To keep it from melting, the ice was treated with potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpetre. — Tulasi Srinivas, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'potassium nitrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

12 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Potassium nitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/potassium%20nitrate. Accessed 23 Oct. 2021.

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