Question

give five uses of Potassium Nitrate

Answer 1

Fireworks

To work, fireworks need gunpowder to thrust or propel them into the air. The gunpowder used is made primarily of potassium nitrate, mixed with charcoal and sulfur. Potassium nitrate is used in both force-and-spark fireworks as well as the colourful flame varieties. It is also used for propulsion in model rockets.

Pesticides

Used as a pyrotechnic fumigant, potassium nitrate is an ingredient used in various insecticides, rodenticides and predicates. According to the EPA, their target pests include ground-nesting wasps, rodents, skunks and coyotes. These products work by combining potassium nitrate with other ingredients to create fumigant gas cartridges. Placed ignited into burrows, these cartridges explode, releasing toxic gas.

Stump Remover

Potassium nitrate is the key ingredient in many brands of stump remover. These products work by chemically accelerating stump decomposition, eventually reducing stumps to a soft, manageable mulch. To use, simply drill several holes into a stump and fill them with chemical stump remover mixed with water. Though this process takes time, ranging from several weeks to several months, it can prove effective, especially on older stumps.ToothpasteToothpaste designed for sensitive teeth and gums often contain potassium nitrate. As gums recede, underlying roots are exposed, causing pain when they come in contact with heat or cold. According to Toms of Maine, a manufacturer of natural toothpaste, potassium nitrate is “clinically proven effective in reducing pain by shielding the sensory nerves under the gum line.”Smoked and Processed MeatsThough potassium nitrate was heavily used as a food preservative in the past, it’s since been replaced in most foods by more predictable preservatives such as sodium nitrate. It is still used, however, in some brands of processed, cured and smoked meats, such as salami, corned beef and sausage. Nitrates or nitrites are needed for stability and to provide the correct colour and flavour for these meats. Too many nitrates, however, can cause negative health effects, according to the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

Answer 2

Answer:

Potassium Nitrate is a crystalline salt, KNO3; a strong oxidizer used especially in making gunpowder, as a fertilizer, and in medicine. Potassium nitrate appears as a white to dirty gray crystalline solid. Water soluble.