Sodium nitrate

 

Sodium nitrate

Chemical formula	NaNO3
OTP appearance	white crystals
Molar Mass(g/mol)	85
Density(g/cc)	2.257
Melting Point(°C)	308
NFPA 704	0 1 0 OX
Thermal Decomposition	sodium nitrate 380°C NaNO2,O2

Uses

Justification Questioned

Other

• Feedstock for nitric acid
• Source of nitrate ions (cf. paracetamol)
• Pharm: IV treatment for cyanide and hydrogen sulfide poisoning.

Natural occurrence

• Sodium nitrate occurrs naturally as chilean saltpeter

Hazards

• LD₅₀ is 3.6g/kg (inhaled)

Production

Synthesis

• Neutralize nitric acid with sodium salt (sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate)

  HNO₃ + NaOH → NaNO₃ + H₂O

  HNO₃ + NaHCO₃ → CO₂ + H₂O + NaNO₃

• Metathesis: Combine sodium carbonate with calcium nitrate, silver nitrate, lead nitrate...

  Na₂CO₃(aq) + Ca(NO₃)₂(aq) → 2 NaNO₃(aq) + CaCO₃(s)

See Also

• potassium nitrate
• calcium nitrate