It was once a popular medication for lowering blood pressure. It is also used for fertilizer and is a large component of gunpowder. Retrieved 3/9/2013. It is also used to treat asthma. As a food preservative, saltpeter also guards against bacteria, such as Clostridium botulinum, and helps foods such as hard cheeses and meats retain an attractive appearance over time. Salt peter was once collected from decomposing material, but today, it is generally manufactured by treating sodium nitrate, mostly mined in Chile, with potassium chloride and collecting the precipitate. Walkerma [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Most potassium nitrate is produced using a chemical reaction of nitric acid and potassium salts, but bat guano was an important historical natural source. LeConte, Joseph (1862). Columbia, S.C.: South Carolina Military Department. Will 5G Impact Our Cell Phone Plans (or Our Health?! Rumors abound that saltpeter has been added to food in prison and military installations to curb sexual desire, but there is no evidence to support this has been done or would even work. Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KNO 3. It has also been called 'Chinese salt' or 'Chinese snow'. It … It is one of the principal ingredients in gunpowder. It and other nitrates were employed by doctors during the 18th century to treat such varied problems as asthma, sore throats, and arthritis. It's a popular myth that saltpeter inhibits male libido. Saltpeter is a common food preservative and additive, fertilizer, and oxidizer for fireworks and rockets. UK Food Standards Agency: "Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers". Saltpeter is a common chemical, used for many products and science projects. It can store this energy for several days and releases it on demand. ), The Secret Science of Solving Crossword Puzzles, Racist Phrases to Remove From Your Mental Lexicon. Before systematic naming of chemicals, saltpeter was called nitrate of potash. Depending on where you live, it may be spelled "saltpetre" rather than 'saltpeter'. Potassium nitrate is used to treat asthma and in topical formulations for sensitive teeth. It is used to cure ham and other preserved meats and fish. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K and nitrate ions NO3 , and is therefore an alkali metal nitrate. Saltpeter is the natural mineral source of the chemical potassium nitrate, KNO3. Instructions for the Manufacture of Saltpeter. It is also used to make glass and to make Concentrating Solar Power plants more efficient. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Retrieved 4/9/2013. Saltpeter, or potassium nitrate, is used as a food preservative and additive. Saltpeter and other nitrates have a long history of medical use, but it is toxic in high doses and can produce symptoms ranging from a mild headache and upset stomach to kidney damage and dangerously altered pressure. Salt peter typically refers to the chemical compound potassium nitrate, though it may also refer to sodium nitrate. Pure saltpeter or potassium nitrate is a white crystalline solid, usually encountered as a powder. Salt peter is a mineral called potassium nitrate. It is also used as an oxidizing agent for rockets and fireworks. It is also used for fertilizer and is a large component of gunpowder. Saltpeter is a common food preservative and additive, fertilizer, and oxidizer for fireworks and rockets. Uses of Saltpeter. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Where to Buy Saltpeter or Potassium Nitrate, Make Ammonium Nitrate from Household Chemicals, How to Make Non-Toxic Colored Smoke Bombs, How to Make a Smoke Bomb With Ping Pong Balls, Double Displacement Reaction Definition and Examples, Instructions for the Manufacture of Saltpeter, Current EU approved additives and their E Numbers, Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College. It is one of the principal ingredients in gunpowder. Festival of Sacrifice: The Past and Present of the Islamic Holiday of Eid al-Adha. Black powder, oxidized with salt peter, is still use… Today, it has many uses in both the laboratory and the larger world. US Food and Drug Administration: "Food Additives and Ingredients". Potassium nitrate was isolated from guano by soaking it in water, filtering it, and harvesting the pure crystals that grow. Here's a look at what exactly saltpeter is. Retrieved 3/9/2013. The story that this chemical was put into soldiers’ food … Salt peter was one of the ingredients of the first gunpowder, black powder. p. 14. A: The belief that saltpeter (potassium nitrate) will reduce sex drive is an urban legend. Curing draws moisture away from meat and reduces bacteria. Saltpeter is a component of condensed aerosol fire suppression systems, salt bridges in electrochemistry, heat treatment of metals, and for thermal storage in power generators. Saltpeter has a long history of medical use. At one point, people believed that saltpeter could be used to suppress the male libido, but there's no credible evidence for this belief. What is saltpeter used for and is it true it reduces certain “carnal urges?” The second part of the question is easy to answer. It may be produced in a similar manner from urine or manure. Saltpeter used to be used to treat hypertension and as part of fire extinguishers. Saltpeter helps grow healthy vegetables by enhancing the soil. Retrieved 3/9/2012. Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. Fact Check: What Power Does the President Really Have Over State Governors? “Saltpetre,” (the term refers either to potassium or sodium nitrate) has no effect on carnal urges. Potassium nitrate is used to treat asthma and in topical formulations for sensitive teeth. Is the Coronavirus Crisis Increasing America's Drug Overdoses? She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Snopes.com: The Saltpeter Principle. Saltpeter is water-soluble and is free of chlorides in its pure state. Saltpeter is also used topically to ease the pain of sensitive teeth and so is an ingredient in some toothpastes. In addition to KNO3, the compounds sodium nitrate (NaNO3), calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), and magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2) are also sometimes referred to as saltpeter. Saltpeter, or potassium nitrate, is used as a food preservative and additive. When it is mixed with sodium nitrate, it makes an excellent storage medium for thermal energy. Saltpeter, also called potassium nitrate, KNO3, and nitrate of potash, is a versatile substance used for gardening, stump removal, medicine, cooking, preserving meats, and making explosives. This makes it an ideal fertilizer for crops that are intolerant of chlorides, such as potatoes, avocados, beans, lettuce and onions.
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