Nitrate ion (NO₃⁻)
- Charge
- −1
- Atoms
- N, O × 3
- Atoms in total
- 4
- Mass of the ion
- 62.004 g/mol
Nitrate is one nitrogen atom surrounded by three oxygen atoms, with a 1− charge spread evenly over the oxygens. It is the ion left when nitric acid, HNO₃, loses its hydrogen ion. Nitrates are in fertilizers, fireworks and gunpowder, and in vegetables such as spinach and beets.
- The -ate name tells you nitrate has one more oxygen atom than nitrite, NO₂⁻, which carries the same 1− charge.
- Almost every nitrate salt dissolves in water, which makes nitrates handy for preparing metal ion solutions in the lab.
- Potassium nitrate, KNO₃, also known as saltpeter, is the oxygen source in black gunpowder.