Nitrata

Nitrates, in some languages referred to as nitrati, are salts or esters of nitric acid that contain the nitrate ion, NO3−. The most common nitrates include inorganic salts such as potassium nitrate (KNO3), ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3), and calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), as well as organic nitrates used in medicine and industry. The nitrate ion features nitrogen in the +5 oxidation state and exhibits resonance stabilization; many nitrates are highly soluble in water and act as oxidizing agents, especially upon heating.

Nitrates occur in nature through both geochemical and biological processes. They form in soils by nitrification, the microbial oxidation of ammonium, and accumulate in mineral deposits, guano, and groundwater. Industrial production involves neutralizing nitric acid with bases or other chemical routes.

Uses include fertilizers, where nitrates supply plant-available nitrogen; oxidizers in explosives and propellants; and in food processing, nitrates and nitrites are used as preservatives and color fixatives. Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin and isosorbide dinitrate, are used medically as vasodilators.

Health and environmental aspects: Excess nitrates in drinking water can contribute to eutrophication and may pose health risks such as methemoglobinemia in infants. Some nitrates can form nitrosamines under certain conditions, which raises regulatory concerns. Therefore, many countries regulate nitrate levels in water, food, and industrial products.