Hummel Croton Inc.
10 Harmich Road
South Plainfield, NJ 07080

Tel: 908-754-1800
Fax: 908-754-1815

Nitrates and Nitrites

Chemical Formula M.W. Sol.* % N CAS # Data Sheet
Ammonium Nitrate NH4NO3 80.04 192.0 35.00 6484-52-2
Barium Nitrate Ba(N03)2 261.39 9.2 10.72 10022-31-8
Calcium Nitrate Ca(NO3)2• 4H2O 236.13 129.3 11.86 13477-34-4
Lead Nitrate Pb(NO3)2 331.23 56.3 8.46 10099-74-8
Potassium Nitrate KNO3 101.10 31.6 13.85 7757-79-1
Potassium Nitrite KNO2 85.11 298.4 16.46 7758-09-0
Silver Nitrate AgNO3 169.87 222.0 8.25 7761-88-8
Sodium Nitrate NaNO3 85.01 88.0 16.48 7631-99-4
Sodium Nitrite NaNO2 69.01 84.5 20.30 7632-00-0
Strontium Nitrate Sr(NO3)2 211.65 69.5 13.24 10042-76-9

*Solubility in water (gram in 100 ml at 20° C)


The major uses of Nitrates especially Ammonium, Calcium and Potassium Nitrates are as fertilizer. Nitrates can be used in the manufacture of glass, nitrites, nitrous oxide, explosives, eutectic salts, pyrotechnics, matches, freezing mixtures and special cements. They are also used for coagulation of latexes, in the nuclear industry and as a corrosion control in aqueous systems.


Nearly all metal nitrates are readily soluble in water; for this reason they are often used when a water soluble salt of a metal is needed.


Nitrites are in the manufacture of diazo dyes and rubber, in the textile industry, in photography, and in the manufacturing of eutectic salts. Nitrites are also used in analytical and preparative chemistry, as a corrosion inhibitor and as an antidote in cyanide poisoning.


Both Nitrates and Nitrites can be used as a coloring and preserving additive for food. Hummel Croton Inc. does not supply food grade Chemicals.