Main > Nutritional supplements> Potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate

What is potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate – the inorganic binary compound presented _{by KNO3} formula known also under names nitrate potassium, potash saltpeter, potassium saltpeter. _{The KNO3 connection}represents colourless crystal powder, nonvolatile, not having a smell, having hygroscopic properties. Substance is good растворимо in water. Not toxically for animals. In the nature _{the substance KNO3} meets in the form of mineral of a nitrokalit which largest deposits are found in the East Indies and Chile. In insignificant quantities contains in plants and animal organisms. Технический нитрат калия применяется в качестве удобрений

Chemical properties and ways of receiving potassium nitrate

_{KNO3 potassium nitrate}decays at a temperature of 400 °C with formation _{of KNO2 potassium nitrite}and _{O2 oxygen}. This substance acts as a strong oxidizer, reacts with combustible materials and reducers. _{The substance KNO3}is recovered by hydrogen at the time of allocation.

In vitro _KNO3receive by reaction _{of Ca(NO3) 2 potash} and calcic _{K2CO3 saltpeter} that is the most ancient way of receiving this substance. Now instead of potash _{K2SO4 potassium sulfate} is applied. Solution of potassium nitrate turns out by the same reaction. Among modern methods there is receiving _{KNO3 potassium nitrate}more available and reaction of KCl potassium chloride and _{NaNO3 sodium nitrate} is cheap.

Potassium nitrate scopes

_{KNO3 potassium nitrate}, as well as potassium nitrate solution, is applied as fertilizer (one of the nitrogen fertilizers rich with the potassium which is a necessary component for growth of plants). Also substance is applied in the electrovacuum industry, metallurgy, optical glassmaking, by production of gunpowder.

Food properties of potassium nitrate

Potassium nitrate is widely applied in the food industry as the E252 nutritional supplement belonging to the category of preservatives.

Preservatives – chemicals, E200 nutritional supplements – E299, the emergence of an unpleasant smell and taste of a product, development of processes of molding, formation of toxins of a microbic origin suppressing growth of microorganisms in a product, and also warning.

Potassium nitrate is applied in production:

cheeses (firm, semisolid, soft);
analogs of cheeses on a milk basis;
sausages and meat products (salty, boiled, smoked), canned meat;
fish products (a herring, a sprat salty and in marinade);
products from a goose liver.

Nutritional supplement is also the coloring fixer. Substance is added to food stuffs for longer preservation of attractive outward of a product. Has subtle antibacterial effect. Нитрат калия - пищевая добавка, применяемая в производстве колбас и мясных продуктов

Impact of potassium nitrate on an organism

Potassium nitrate has cancerogenic effect – development of malignant new growths under the influence of external factors. However in the recommended doses of E252 does not make harmful effects on the adult's organism. The negative impact of nitrates is explained by their transformation in a human body to nitrites (in foodstuff there is an uncontrolled transformation of potassium nitrate to nitrites) and cancerogenic nitrosamines. The amount of the nitrates getting to an organism with nutritional supplements, in particular with E252 is insignificant a little in comparison with the content of these substances in drinking water, and also in vegetables (as a result of excessive fertilizer).

Long influence of E252 in small doses on an organism can lead to development of the following symptoms and diseases:

Severe pains in a stomach
Weakness
Dizziness
Mental disturbances
Disturbance of space orientation
Arrhythmia
Inflammation of kidneys
Anemia

Legal information

Potassium nitrate as nutritional supplement is allowed for use in production of food stuffs in the territory of the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and also the European Union countries.

The products containing potassium nitrate are not recommended for the daily use. E252 nutritional supplement is prohibited for use in production of products of baby food.

Whether you know that:

In the aspiration to pull out the patient, doctors often go too far. So, for example, a certain Charles Janszen during the period from 1954 to 1994 endured more than 900 operations on removal of new growths.

Frequent female diseases and their symptoms

The majority of gynecologic diseases prove three main signs, each of which speaks about need to the visa...