nitrate (nitrat)

[ heat. They are much employed as oxidizing agents, and may be prepared by the action of nitric acid on metals Glyceryl nitrate. Same as nitroglycerin. - Nitrate of potash, niter. - Nitrate of silver, silver oxidized and di olved by nitric acid diluted with two or three times its weight of water, forming a solution which yields transparent tabular crystals on cooling, these crystals constituting the ordinary commercial silver nitrate. When fused the nitrate is of a grayish-brown color, and may be cast into small sticks in a mold; these sticks form the lapis inferna lis or lunar caustic employed by surgeons as a cautery. It is sometimes employed for giving a black color to the hair, and is the basis of the indelible ink used for marking linen. It is also very largely used in photography. Also called argentic nitrate. - Nitrate of soda, sodium nitrate, a salt analogous in its chemical properties to pota ium nitrate or niter. It commonly crystallizes in obtuse rhombohedrons. It is found native in enormous quantities in the rainle district on the borders of Chili, whence the world's supply is obtained. Its chief uses are as a fertilizer, and for the production of nitric acid and saltpeter (pota ium nitrate). It cannot be directly used for the manufacture of gunpowder, on account of its hygroscopic quality. See saltpeter. nitrate (ni'trāt), v. t.; pret. and pp. nitrated, ppr. nitrating. [ nitratin (nitra-tin), n. [ nitration (ni-tra's hon), n. The proce or act ducing into a compound by substitu of introducing tion the radical nitryl, NO2. nitre, n. See niter.