Nitrate of potash (N05KO), commonly known in commerce by the name of nitre and saltpetre, is a natural production.

It has a cool, slightly bitter taste; its den-sity = 1.933. Subjected to the action of heat it melts at about 662°, forming a mobile liquid, which congeals on cooling, with a vitreous appearance. Heat decomposes it into nitrite of potash.

It is more soluble in hot than in cold water.

100 parts water at 320 dissolve 13.32 parts nit. of potash.

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Nitrate of potash is a powerful oxidizing agent; thrown on ignited coals it fuses, increasing the combustion of the coal at the point of contact. A mixture of it with sulphur, thrown into a heated crucible, produces a vivid combustion with great evolution of light, and forms sulphate of potash. It is one of the components of gunpowder.

Nitrate of potash, before using, must be perfectly dry.

Bichromate Of Potash

Bichromate of potash KO2(Cr203) has a very intense red color; its taste is fresh, bitter, and metallic; it crystallizes in large rectangular tables, anhydrous, inalterable in the air, insoluble in very concentrated alcohol, soluble in ten times its weight of water at 63°. It destroys vegetable and animal colors. It is sufficiently pure as found in the trade.