Sodium nitrate facts for kids
Sodium nitrate is a special kind of chemical compound. You might also hear it called caliche, Chile saltpeter, or soda niter. It's made up of two parts: sodium and nitrate ions. Its chemical formula is NaNO3, which tells us it has one sodium atom, one nitrogen atom, and three oxygen atoms.
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What is Sodium Nitrate Like?
Sodium nitrate is a white, solid material that looks like tiny crystals. It can dissolve very easily in water, almost like sugar or salt. It's also known as an oxidizing agent. This means it can help other substances burn or react by providing oxygen.
Where Does Sodium Nitrate Come From?
Sodium nitrate is found naturally in very dry places. If it were wet, it would simply dissolve away! Long ago, a lot of natural sodium nitrate was found in the super dry Atacama Desert in Chile.
Today, most sodium nitrate is made in factories. Scientists make it by mixing two other chemicals: sodium hydroxide and nitric acid. You can also find small amounts of it in leafy green vegetables.
What is Sodium Nitrate Used For?
Sodium nitrate has many important uses:
- Helping Plants Grow: It gives nitrogen to the soil, which is a key nutrient for plants. This makes it a good fertilizer.
- Making Explosives: It is used to make gunpowder and other explosives.
- Creating Nitric Acid: It can be used to make nitric acid by reacting it with sulfuric acid.
- Rockets and Smoke Bombs: It's an ingredient in rocket fuels and smoke bombs.
- Keeping Food Fresh: Sometimes, it's used as a food preservative to help keep food from spoiling.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Advertisement for sodium nitrate fertilizer from Chile on a wall of a village in the Algarve area of Portugal
See also
In Spanish: Nitrato de sodio para niños
