Question

What is nitrates?

explain with example.

Answer 1

Nitrates are inorganic compounds made up of nitrogen and oxygen, NO3 (one nitrogen and three oxygen molecules). These compounds combine with other elements like sodium and potassium to make sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate. They are used as preservatives and color fixatives in cured meats and have other industrial uses, such as in gunpowder, explosives, fertilizers, and glass enamels.

Examples of nitrates are ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), sodium nitrate(NaNO3) and potassium nitrate (KNO3). Nitrates consist of one central nitrogen atom surrounded by three identical oxygen atoms in a trigonal planar arrangement.