Nitrate
Nitrate is a polyatomic ion with the chemical formula NO3−. Salts containing this ion are called nitrates. Nitrates are common components of fertilizers and explosives. Almost all inorganic nitrates are soluble in water. An example of an insoluble (inorganic) nitrate is bismuth oxynitrate.
In nature, nitrates are produced by a number of species of nitrifying bacteria in the natural environment using ammonia or urea as a source of nitrogen and source of free energy. Nitrate compounds for gunpowder were historically produced, in the absence of mineral nitrate sources, by means of various fermentation processes using urine and dung. Modern nitrate production is mostly focused on creation for fertilizer and chemical manufacturing for various applications, such as medicine synthesis, ceramics and preservation of meat. Annually, about 195 million metric tons of synthetic nitrogen fertilizers are used worldwide, with nitrates constituting a significant portion of this amount.
Because nitrates are soluble and easily can be swept away from the soil because of precipitation, excessive agricultural use has been associated with nutrient runoff, water pollution, and the proliferation of aquatic dead zones. Direct exposure of nitrates for humans can have direct health consequences: the excess consumption of nitrates in cured meats is associated with intestinal cancers.
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