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saltpetremore about saltpetre

saltpetre


  2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Saltpeter  \Salt`pe"ter\,  Saltpetre  \Salt`pe"tre\,,  n.  [F. 
  salp[^e]tre,  NL  sal  petrae,  literally,  rock  salt,  or  stone 
  salt;  so  called  because  it  exudes  from  rocks  or  walls.  See 
  {Salt},  and  {Petrify}.]  (Chem.) 
  Potassium  nitrate;  niter;  a  white  crystalline  substance, 
  {KNO3},  having  a  cooling  saline  taste,  obtained  by  leaching 
  from  certain  soils  in  which  it  is  produced  by  the  process  of 
  nitrification  (see  {Nitrification},  2).  It  is  a  strong 
  oxidizer,  is  the  chief  constituent  of  gunpowder,  and  is  also 
  used  as  an  antiseptic  in  curing  meat,  and  in  medicine  as  a 
  diuretic,  diaphoretic,  and  refrigerant. 
 
  {Chili  salpeter}  (Chem.),  sodium  nitrate  (distinguished  from 
  potassium  nitrate,  or  true  salpeter),  a  white  crystalline 
  substance,  {NaNO3},  having  a  cooling,  saline,  slightly 
  bitter  taste.  It  is  obtained  by  leaching  the  soil  of  the 
  rainless  districts  of  Chili  and  Peru.  It  is  deliquescent 
  and  cannot  be  used  in  gunpowder,  but  is  employed  in  the 
  production  of  nitric  acid.  Called  also  {cubic  niter}. 
 
  {Saltpeter  acid}  (Chem.),  nitric  acid;  --  sometimes  so  called 
  because  made  from  saltpeter. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  saltpetre 
  n  :  (KNO3)  used  especially  as  a  fertilizer  and  explosive  [syn:  {potassium 
  nitrate},  {saltpeter},  {niter},  {nitre}] 




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