Sodium nitrate (sodium nitrate) NaNO3, or sodium, sodium nitrate – a well-known fertilizer, food additive, a component used in many industries. In the natural environment is found in the form of huge reserves in Chile, hence another synonym-Chilean nitrate. In agriculture, the use of this fertilizer, promotes the growth of the vegetative part of the plants. In the food industry-used to increase the shelf life of food, known as a preservative E251. In General, the variety of applications of this type of saltpeter is wide and not limited to food additives and fertilizer.
Sodium nitrate is widely used in agriculture-as fertilizers. The chemical plays a great role in heavy industry: it is used in the production of glass, rubber, pyrotechnic devices, rocket fuels, concrete (to increase resistance to low temperatures). In light industry, sodium nitrates have been used as a component of dyes.