Sodium nitrate

Athanor · official

NNaO₃ · 84.995 g/mol

Also called Chile saltpetre, E251

Inorganic

Open in Athanor

Drawn from its SMILES with RDKit

DangerMay intensify fire; oxidizer · Harmful if swallowed · Causes serious eye irritation

Names and identifiers

IUPAC name: sodium nitrate
Synonyms: Chile saltpetre, E251, Chile saltpeter
+ 36 more
Cubic niter, Soda niter, Nitrate of soda, etabisulfite, Nitratine, Sodium saltpeter, Nitrate de sodium, Nitric acid, sodium salt, Saltpeter (Chile), Nitric acid monosodium salt, Nitric acid sodium salt (1:1), Natrum nitricum, Sodium nitrate(DOT), Sodium(I) nitrate (1:1), Nitric acid sodium salt, DTXSID6020937, 8M4L3H2ZVZ, INS NO.251, INS-251, NSC-77390, DTXCID60937, E-251, CHEBI:63005, INFLAMMATIONS, RefChem:6497, 231-554-3, 682-622-8, Nitrate, sodium, sodium;nitrate, Nitratite (Na(NO3)), CHEMBL1644698, Na (N O3), Caswell No. 781, sodiumnitrate, Chile salpeter, Saltpeter (Chile) (VAN)
Molecular formula: NNaO₃
Empirical formula: NNaO₃
Molecular weight: 84.995 g/mol
Exact mass: 84.97759
CAS number: 7631-99-4
PubChem CID: 24268
Canonical SMILES: [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Na+]
Isomeric SMILES: [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[Na+]
InChI: InChI=1S/NO3.Na/c2-1(3)4;/q-1;+1
InChIKey: VWDWKYIASSYTQR-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Molfile

Names, InChI and the identifiers from PubChem, retrieved 2026-10-14.

Physical properties

TemperaturePressureDensity

Appearance: Colorless, trigonal or rhombohedron crystals[4]
4 values
From Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), the most authoritative source here.
Value As written Source
– Sodium nitrate appears as a white crystalline solid. Noncombustible but accelerates the burning of combustible materials. If large quantities are involved in fire or the combustible material is finely divided an explosion may result. May explode under prolonged exposure to heat or fire. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires. Used in solid propellants, explosives, fertilizers, and for many other uses. [1] CAMEO Chemicals
– Dry Powder; Large Crystals; Liquid; Large Crystals; Liquid; Liquid; Other Solid; Dry Powder; Other Solid; Large Crystals; CBI [2] EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
– COLOURLESS HYGROSCOPIC CRYSTALS. [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–shown Colorless, trigonal or rhombohedron crystals [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lewis, R.J. Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 10th ed. Volumes 1-3 New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1999., p. V3: 3264
Odor: Odorless[4]
Melting point: 306.5 °C[5]
3 values
3 of 3 sources agree on it (most common value).
Value As written Source
306.8 °C 584.2 °F (USCG, 1999) [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
308 °C 308 °C [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
306.5 °Cshown 306.5 °C [5] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Boiling point: 380 °C with decomp[4]
Density: 2.261 @25 °C[5]
3 values
3 of 3 sources agree on it (most common value).
Value As written Source
– 2.26 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water [1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
– 2.3 g/cm³ [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–shown 2.261 @25 °C [5] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy
Solubility in water: Solubility in water, g/100ml at 25 °C: 92.1[3]
3 values
From ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs), the most authoritative source here.
Value As written Source
– ...is soluble in liquid ammonia and forms Na NO3.4NH3 below -42 °C. The solubility in anhydrous methanol is 2.8 wt% at 25 °C. [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Gerhartz, W. (exec ed.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 5th ed.Vol A1: Deerfield Beach, FL: VCH Publishers, 1985 to Present., p. VA17: 266 (1991)
– In water, 730,000 mg/L at 0 °C [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Shiu WY et al; Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 116:166 (1990)
–shown Solubility in water, g/100ml at 25 °C: 92.1 [3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Viscosity: 2.85 cP at 590 K[4]
2 values
Only one source reports it.
Value As written Source
–shown 2.85 cP at 590 K [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.
– 1.53 cP at 730 K [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.
Refractive index: Index of refraction = 1.587 (trigonal)[4]
2 values
Only one source reports it.
Value As written Source
–shown Index of refraction = 1.587 (trigonal) [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.
– 1.336 (rhombohedral) [4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.

Value	As written	Source
–	Sodium nitrate appears as a white crystalline solid. Noncombustible but accelerates the burning of combustible materials. If large quantities are involved in fire or the combustible material is finely divided an explosion may result. May explode under prolonged exposure to heat or fire. Toxic oxides of nitrogen are produced in fires. Used in solid propellants, explosives, fertilizers, and for many other uses.	[1] CAMEO Chemicals
–	Dry Powder; Large Crystals; Liquid; Large Crystals; Liquid; Liquid; Other Solid; Dry Powder; Other Solid; Large Crystals; CBI	[2] EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR)
–	COLOURLESS HYGROSCOPIC CRYSTALS.	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–shown	Colorless, trigonal or rhombohedron crystals	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Lewis, R.J. Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials. 10th ed. Volumes 1-3 New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 1999., p. V3: 3264

Value	As written	Source
306.8 °C	584.2 °F (USCG, 1999)	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
308 °C	308 °C	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
306.5 °Cshown	306.5 °C	[5] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Value	As written	Source
–	2.26 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water	[1] CAMEO Chemicalscites U.S. Coast Guard. 1999. Chemical Hazard Response Information System (CHRIS) - Hazardous Chemical Data. Commandant Instruction 16465.12C. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
–	2.3 g/cm³	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
–shown	2.261 @25 °C	[5] PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy

Value	As written	Source
–	...is soluble in liquid ammonia and forms Na NO3.4NH3 below -42 °C. The solubility in anhydrous methanol is 2.8 wt% at 25 °C.	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Gerhartz, W. (exec ed.). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 5th ed.Vol A1: Deerfield Beach, FL: VCH Publishers, 1985 to Present., p. VA17: 266 (1991)
–	In water, 730,000 mg/L at 0 °C	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Shiu WY et al; Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 116:166 (1990)
–shown	Solubility in water, g/100ml at 25 °C: 92.1	[3] ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)

Value	As written	Source
–shown	2.85 cP at 590 K	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.
–	1.53 cP at 730 K	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.

Value	As written	Source
–shown	Index of refraction = 1.587 (trigonal)	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.
–	1.336 (rhombohedral)	[4] Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)cites Pokorny L et al; Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. (2005). NY, NY: John Wiley & Sons; Sodium Nitrate and Nitrite. Online Posting Date: Jan 27, 2006.

Each value as its source reports it, with the source's number after it (listed under References). Where several sources report a property, the row shows the value most of them agree on, the rule the app uses; open the values to see every one.

Calculated

Heavy atoms: 5
Rings: 0
Aromatic rings: 0
Fraction sp³ carbons (Fsp3): 0
H-bond donors: 0
H-bond acceptors: 3
Rotatable bonds: 0
TPSA (Å²): 66.2 computed here · PubChem 62.9
Formal charge: 0
Complexity: 18 PubChem
Stereocenters: None
Double-bond geometry: None specified
Point group: D3h of one 3D conformer with its hydrogens, by Athanor’s engine (as in the app)

Elemental analysis

N16.48%
Na27.05%
O56.47%

Isotope pattern

Each peak is a nominal mass with its abundance-weighted exact mass, as a percentage of the tallest, from IUPAC natural isotope abundances.

Computed from the structure with RDKit 2026.09 when this page was built, beside PubChem's own computed values from its record; where the two differ, both are shown.

Predicted

log P: -3.24 Crippen (Wildman and Crippen 1999)
log S (water solubility): 1.67 ESOL (Delaney 2004), log mol/L
Synthetic accessibility: 3.51 SA score, 1 easy to 10 hard (Ertl and Schuffenhauer 2009)

Drug-likeness: Lipinski’s rule of five

Molecular weight ≤ 500: 84.99
log P ≤ 5 (Crippen): -3.24
H-bond donors ≤ 5: 0
H-bond acceptors ≤ 10: 3

Passes all four rules.

Predictions, not measurements; each names its method. A measured log P, where a source reports one, is under Physical properties.

Safety

Danger

Most widely reported: 1,683 company reports to ECHA. Source [6].

Oxidizer
Harmful or irritant

H272May intensify fire; oxidizer (56.9% of reports)
H302Harmful if swallowed (19.3% of reports)
H319Causes serious eye irritation (85.9% of reports)

Precautionary statements: P210, P220, P264, P264+P265, P270, P280, P301+P317, P305+P351+P338, P330, P337+P317, P370+P378, P501

View all classifications (3)

[6] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 2.7% (46 of 1683) of reports.
[6] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · 1,683 reports · DangerH272, H302, H319
[6] European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · DangerH272, H319

First aid

See a physician. Eyes: Rinse with water. Skin: Wash with water for 15 minutes. Ingestion: Drink water, milk, or activated charcoal; then induce vomiting or gastric lavage followed by catharsis. (USCG, 1999)[1]
General First Aid: · Call 911 or emergency medical service. · Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved, take precautions to protect themselves and avoid contamination. · Move victim to fresh air if it can be done safely. · Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. · If victim is not breathing: -- DO NOT perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation; the victim may have ingested or inhaled the substance. -- If equipped and pulse detected, wash face and mouth, then give artificial respiration using a proper respiratory medical device (bag-valve mask, pocket mask equipped…[7]
Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.[3]
First rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, then remove contaminated clothes and rinse again.[3]

Storage

Separated from combustible substances and reducing agents. Dry.[3]
Prevent against physical damage; store in dry and cool place away from inflammable organics or easily oxidizable substances; wooden floor is not acceptable; wear rubber gloves, safety glasses, protecting work clothing.[4]

Incompatibilities

Interaction of nitrates when heated with amidosulfates (sulfamates) may become explosively violent owing to liberation of dinitrogen oxide and steam. (nitrates)[4]
A study of the kinetics in attack of magnesium by molten sodium nitrate indicates that decomposition of the nitrate releases oxygen atoms which oxidize the metal so exothermally that ignition ensues.[4]
Fibrous organic material (jute storage bags) is oxidized in contact with sodium nitrate above 160 °C and will ignite below 220 °C. Wood and similar cellulosic materials are rendered highly combustible by nitrate impregnation.[4]
Mixtures of (sodium) nitrate with powdered aluminum or its oxide (the latter seems unlikely) were reported to be explosive. ... A violent explosion in a copper smelting works was caused mainly by reaction of aluminum with sodium nitrate.[4]

Safety data sheets on the supplier’s page: Aladdin Scientific, VladaChem, GFS Chemicals.

Always read the supplier’s safety data sheet before working with it.

Spectra

15N NMRSpectraBase
FTIRSpectraBase (KBr pellet)
ATR-IRSpectraBase
RamanRRUFF Project · RRUFF Project · RRUFF Project · RRUFF Project · RRUFF Project · RRUFF Project

Experimental spectra held by these sources; each link opens the source's own record.

Literature

Reading PubChem, OpenAlex and GSRS…

Bioactivity

Reading ChEMBL…

References

[1]CAMEO Chemicals · Public domain (NOAA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[2]EPA Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) · Public domain (US EPA) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[3]ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs) · CC BY 4.0 · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[4]Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) · Public domain (US NLM) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[5]PAC Chemical Database, U.S. Department of Energy · Public domain (US DOE) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[6]European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) · ECHA legal notice: reuse with acknowledgement · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[7]Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG) · Public domain (US DOT) · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[8]SpectraBase · Linked only · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
[9]RRUFF Project · Linked only · via PubChem · retrieved 2026-10-14
·Calculated values: computed by Athanor with RDKit 2026.09 from the structure.
·Literature on PubChem

Data last updated 2026-10-14.