Potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula KNO. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K and nitrate ions NO, and is therefore an alkali metal nitrate. It occurs in nature as a mineral, niter. It is a source of nitrogen, from which it derives its name. Potassium nitrate is one of several nitrogen-containing compounds collectively referred to as saltpeter or saltpetre. Major uses of potassium nitrate are in fertilizers, tree stump removal, rocket propellants and fireworks. It is one of the major constituents of gunpowder (black powder) and has been used since the
Potassium pyrosulfate Potassium pyrosulfate Potassium pyrosulfate, or potassium disulfate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula KSO. Potassium pyrosulfate is obtained by the thermal decomposition of other salts, most directly from potassium bisulfate: Temperatures above 600°C further decompose potassium pyrosulfate to potassium sulfate and sulfur trioxide however: Other salts, such as potassium trisulfate, can also decompose into potassium pyrosulfate. Potassium pyrosulfate contains the pyrosulfate anion which has a dichromate like structure. The geometry can be visualized as a tetrahedron with two corners sharing the SO anion's configuration and a centrally bridged oxygen atom. A semi-structural formula for the pyrosulfate anion is