Alkali metals nitrates

Alkali metal nitrates can be prepared by direct reaction of aqueous nitric acid on the appropriate hydroxide or carbonate. LiN03 is used for scarlet flares and pyrotechnic displays. Large deposits of NaN03 (saltpetre) are found in Chile and were probably formed by bacterial decay of small marine organisms the NH3 initially produced... 

Alkali metal nitrates are low-melting salts that decompose with evolution of oxygen above about 500 C, e.g. 

A slight but systematic decrease in the wave number of the complexes bond vibrations, observed when moving from sodium to cesium, corresponds to the increase in the covalency of the inner-sphere bonds. Taking into account that the ionic radii of rubidium and cesium are greater than that of fluorine, it can be assumed that the covalent bond share results not only from the polarization of the complex ion but from that of the outer-sphere cation as well. This mechanism could explain the main differences between fluoride ions and oxides. For instance, melts of alkali metal nitrates display a similar influence of the alkali metal on the vibration frequency, but covalent interactions are affected mostly by the polarization of nitrate ions in the field of the outer-sphere alkali metal cations [359]. 

Powdered antimony explodes when heated with an alkali metal nitrate. 

Deflagration occurs in contact with molten alkali metal nitrates. 

The elements have remarkably low specific gravity, and a high atomic volume (q.v.). The oxides and hydroxides are markedly basic they do not exhibit acidic qualities. The physical properties of the salts—solubility in water, molecular volume, optical properties, and the variation in the form of the crystals show the same order of variation as the atomic weights of the elements. Lithium differs in mafiy respects from the other members of the family. The salts of the alkali metals —nitrates, chlorides, sulphides, sulphates, phosphates, carbonates, etc.—are nearly all soluble in water, although lithium, carbonate, phosphate, and fluoride are very... 

Most nitrates decompose on heating, but here the decomposition is somewhat more complicated. Dissociation into oxides and N205 does not occur because the latter compound further splits into lower oxides of nitrogen and oxygen. The alkali-metal nitrates decompose into nitrites and oxygen. Thus... 

AN with sufficient water to give such viscosity that the particulate material remains in suspension and hence in uniform distribution thruout the slurry. The viscosity may be improved by adding thickeners such as guar gum, polyacrylamides, etc, with or without cross-linking agents. Up to 50% NC may be replaced with TNT, Tetryl, PETN, RDX or HMX up to 25% AN may be replaced with alkali metal nitrates, such as NaNOg)... 

CA 65, 12057(1966) [A high-d, water-resistant, readily deformable expl is provided by a mixt of AN, alkali metal nitrate (such as... 

Ch.H. Grant, USP 3307986(1967) CA 66, 117567u (1967) [High-energy water-resistant AN-alkali metal nitrate expls contg A1 of particular size distribution and processes for their production were described. A 1000-lb batch of expl was prepd as follows ... 

Some of the aldehyde-amine condensation products have been recommended as ingredients of nondetonating, deflagrating, expl compns (similar in properties to black powder) for use in the delay combustion-train devices of fuzes. Other ingredients of such compns are non-explosive, such as alkali metal nitrates and charred carbonaceous compounds(Ref 1)... 

Inorganic Adsorbents. These have two general classifications (a) inorganic salts (e.g., alkali metal nitrates and halides (45), alkaline earth halides (46), vanadium, manganese, and cobalt chlorides (47), and barium sulfate (48). (b) inorganic salts... 

The reaction rate of BkPdr may be increased as much as ten-fold by addg low--melting mixts of alkali metal nitrates, such as LiNOs + NaN03) Y)Ibid,BritP 7 15829 (1954) CA 49,2736(1955)(The reaction rate of BkPdr may be increased by addg small amts (eg 5%) of a metallic salt such as PbOAc,... 

Potassium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate permissible explosives, cooled by means of common salt, ammonium oxalate, etc., and containing either ammonium nitrate or alkali metal nitrate with or without nitroglycerin, are used in England, Belgium, and elsewhere. They possess no novel features beyond the explosives already described. Explosives containing ammonium perchlorate yield fumes which contain hydrogen chloride. Potassium perchlorate produces potassium chloride. 

Ammonium Nitrate—Alkali Metal Nitrate Explosive Containing Aluminum of Particular Size Distribution... 

Distribution Ratios for Alkali Metal Nitrates from Water to 1,2-Dichloroethane and the Corresponding Selectivities... 

Sacheben, R.A., Deng, Y., Moyer, B.A. 1997. Ion-pair extraction of alkali metal nitrate salts by lipohilic, benzo-substituted 24-crown-8 ethers. Sep. Sci. Technol. 32( 1—4) 275-284. 

Figure 3.33 Competitive extraction of alkali metal nitrates by tribenzo [21] crown-7.

I carbonates Co-Na, Co-K, Ni-Na, Ni-K nitrates Zn-alkali metals sulphates (schoenites) Mg-Na carbonates Al-K, Ce-Na nitrates rare earth-alkali metals sulphates (alums) Me111-alkali metals carbonates Ce-alkali metals nitrates Ce-alkali metals sulphates U-alkali metals alkali metals vanadates alkali metal chromates, Ag chromate, alkali metal molybdates and tungstates... 

Anhydrous nitrates often have high solubility in organic solvents and are best regarded as covalent. Alkali metal nitrates sublime in vacuum at 350 to 500°C, but... 

Alkali metal nitrates have comparatively low-melting points and the solid nitrates are excellent oxidizers at higher temperatures. Potassium nitrate is used as an oxidizer in black powder (75wt% KNO3, 15% charcoal, 10% sulfur). Fertilizer mixtures commonly contain ammonium nitrate or potassium nitrate, sometimes sodium or calcium nitrate as nitrogen compounds. Ammonium nitrate is also used as an explosive or as an oxidizer in an explosive mixture. Some properties of important nitrate fertilizers are summarized in Table 31. 

Many structural studies have been made on the species present in the vapors above oxysalts such as alkali metal nitrates, chlorates, perrhenates, and so on. In part, the interest in such work lies in determining the mode of coordination of the metal atom to the oxyanion in the monomeric vapor species. Both gas electron diffraction and matrix isolation have been employed to seek an answer to this question. 

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