potassium nitrate

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Noun

potassium nitrate (uncountable)

1. (inorganic chemistry) KNO₃, a naturally occurring salt, is an ingredient of gunpowder, is a food preservative, and is an ingredient in toothpaste for sensitive gums. Historically saltpeter has been used in the production of nitric acid HNO₃. Other methods are now used.

Synonyms

• E252, when used as a preservative
• nitre
• saltpetre, saltpeter

Translations

• French: salpêtre, salpêtre du Chili, nitre#French|nitre
• German: Salpeter, Kalisalpeter
• Portuguese: salitre
• Russian: сели́тра

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