Sodium nitrate CAS#7631-99-4

Sodium nitrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NaNO₃. It is a hygroscopic substance that typically appears as colorless, transparent trigonal crystals or as a white to yellow crystalline powder. It has a melting point of 306.8°C and decomposes at approximately 380°C upon heating.

Sodium nitrate is highly soluble in water and liquid ammonia and is also soluble in methanol and ethanol. It is only slightly soluble in glycerol and very slightly soluble in acetone. Its dissolution in water is an endothermic process that causes the solution to cool, while its aqueous solution remains neutral.

Sodium nitrate is an important raw material used in the manufacture of potassium nitrate, mining explosives, picric acid, and dyes. It also serves as a nitrating agent in the production of dye intermediates.

In the glass industry, sodium nitrate is used as a defoaming agent, decolorizing agent, clarifying agent, and oxidation flux in the manufacture of various types of glass and glass products. In the enamel industry, it functions as an oxidizing agent and flux for the preparation of enamel powders.

In the machinery industry, it is used as a metal cleaning agent and in the preparation of black metal bluing agents. In metallurgy, sodium nitrate can be used as a heat treatment agent for steelmaking and aluminum alloys. In the light industry, it is used in the production of combustion accelerants for cigarettes.

In the pharmaceutical industry, sodium nitrate is used as a culture medium component for penicillin production. In agriculture, it serves as a quick-acting fertilizer for acidic soils, particularly for root crops such as sugar beets and radishes.

In addition, sodium nitrate can be used as a decolorizing agent for molten caustic soda. High-purity grades are suitable for use as analytical and spectroscopic reagents, as well as oxidizing agents. It is also used in dye synthesis and the manufacture of explosives and fireworks.