How to Use potassium nitrate in a Sentence

potassium nitrate

noun
  • And urine was, too, a source of potassium nitrate, one of the ingredients of gunpowder.
    The Economist, 30 Dec. 2020
  • Maybe part of it is that potassium nitrate is one of the ingredients in gunpowder.
    Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2020
  • Stumps of larger vines can be killed by drilling holes and filling with molasses or saltpeter (potassium nitrate).
    Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 16 Aug. 2021
  • But the sulfur and potassium nitrate used in the 14th and 15th centuries would have been more contaminated.
    Eric Niiler, Wired, 29 Sep. 2021
  • Some websites such as SeedRanch.com sell potassium nitrate online, and the prices look reasonable.
    Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2020
  • Good ole fluoride and a heaping dose of potassium nitrate.
    Lacey Muinos, Health, 13 Feb. 2023
  • To keep it from melting, the ice was treated with potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpetre.
    Tulasi Srinivas, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020
  • Historically, the best natural source of saltpeter, the common name for potassium nitrate, has been from caves caked with bat droppings.
    Kevin Davenport, idahostatesman, 3 July 2018
  • The black powder used as propellant in 19th-century guns produced thick plumes of lead, carbon, sulfur, and potassium nitrate when combusted.
    Aaron Mak, Slate Magazine, 17 July 2017
  • Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrate are key ingredients in curing meat.
    Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 23 Sep. 2020
  • For ages, the main ingredients of gunpowder have consisted of sulfur, carbon and potassium nitrate, commonly known as saltpeter.
    The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2021
  • Gunpowder makers in the 14th and 15th centuries used black powder brought to Europe from China, then mixed its three ingredients together one by one: saltpeter (also known as potassium nitrate), charcoal, and sulfur.
    Eric Niiler, Wired, 29 Sep. 2021
  • Arginine bicarbonate plugs the exposed pores in your teeth for immediate relief, while other ingredients, such as potassium nitrate and strontium chloride, block pain signals to the brain.
    Joanne Chen, Redbook, 24 July 2017
  • Other potential elements include sulfur or pitch, saltpeter (namely potassium nitrate, a salt that forms on the surfaces of rock), and turpentine, which is an oily extract obtained from coniferous trees.
    Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
  • When ignited, charcoal inside the canister burns, while chemical compounds such as potassium nitrate and potassium chlorate produce oxygen that fuel the fire.
    Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 31 May 2020
  • Use toothpaste and mouth rinse with hydroxyapatite or fluoride; potassium nitrate is also good for sensitivity and found in pastes like Sensodyne.
    Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2021
  • The GLO Science formula includes hydrogen peroxide to whiten the teeth and remove stains, while potassium nitrate prevents sensitivity.
    ELLE, 14 May 2022
  • The room located within the same building contained 28 additional containers with gasoline, sulfur powder, and potassium nitrate.
    Katherine Lam, Fox News, 15 July 2018
  • Lipari suggests those with sensitive teeth keep their eyes peeled for whitening toothpastes powered by the ingredient potassium nitrate, which helps reduce overall sensitivity.
    Tiffany Dodson, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Whitening products that promote safe bleaching and protect your teeth from sensitivity with a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide or contain potassium nitrate is your best option.
    The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Nov. 2022
  • This easy-to-use and suitcase-friendly kit features heat technology, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium nitrate to rapidly whiten smiles with zero sensitivity or discomfort.
    Katie Chang, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022
  • Homemade smoke bombs are usually made with gunpowder or potassium nitrate, an ingredient in fertilizer.
    BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2021

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potassium nitrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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