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Although nitrites are the nitrogen compound chiefly used in meat curing, nitrates are used in certain specialty curing processes where a long release of nitrite from parent nitrate stores is needed. The use of nitrates in food preservation is controversial.
This chemical compound is composed of one tin ion, which is ionically bound to two NO3, or nitrate ions. The tin (II) ion has a 2- charge. Nitrate is a polyatomic ion with a 1- charge. Nitrate has a trigonal planar geometry, with a central nitrogen atom and three surrounding oxygens. The nitrogen atom carries a 1+ charge, while the three oxygens carry a 2/3- charge. Nitrate carries an overall 1- charge.