A nitrate salt pairs a metal or ammonium cation with the nitrate ion, NO3-. Most are colorless or white solids, dissolve easily in water, and several, especially silver, mercuric and ammonium nitrate, act as oxidizers, meaning they can intensify a fire or react with combustible materials nearby. Silver nitrate is also light sensitive and darkens on exposure, which is why it ships and stores in amber glass or opaque containers. Beyond that shared oxidizing tendency, each nitrate salt behaves according to its own metal: lead and mercuric nitrate are toxic heavy metal salts, ammonium and potassium nitrate are common fertilizer components, and silver nitrate is prized for its reactivity with halide ions.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Silver nitrate for chloride titrations, water testing, antimicrobial and wound care formulations, photography and silver plating. Ammonium and potassium nitrate as fertilizer components and in some pyrotechnic and combustion research. Barium, cupric, lead and mercuric nitrate as precursors in inorganic synthesis and analytical reference standards. Sodium and magnesium nitrate in general reagent and buffer work.
GRADES EXPLAINED
Lab Grade is the largest group, solid purity with no official monograph, for general lab and industrial use. ACS Reagent Grade meets American Chemical Society limits for analytical work, notably on the silver, ammonium, potassium and barium nitrates. Reagent Grade covers prepared solutions, like the standardized silver nitrate normal solutions used directly in titrations.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
Crystal and solution forms, from 0.0172N standards up to 10% solutions, for titrations, water testing and antimicrobial use.
ACS grade crystal, the fertilizer and oxidizer salt; ships with its own handling rules.
USP/ACS/FCC grade powder, for fertilizer, food curing and analytical work.
ACS grade crystal, used in pyrotechnics research and inorganic synthesis.
Crystal and 1.0 molar solution, a copper source for plating and synthesis.
Granular lab grade, an oxidizer used in glass, fertilizer and food curing research.
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
256,000+ customers already order their chemicals and reagents from Lab Alley. 99.5% of orders ship within 1 to 2 business days, and 98.9% inventory accuracy means the grade you see in stock is the grade that ships. SDS and COA are available online for every nitrate salt. None of the nitrate salts in this category carry Kosher, Halal or food grade certification, aside from the potassium nitrate powder, which is also FCC food grade; check each product page to confirm.
Related: See our Chlorides collection or Nitric Acid, or browse all Salts.