Potassium nitrate is the inorganic nitrate salt of potassium.
How much products actually contain
No product states its amount yet.
Of the products containing it, 0 list it before the 1% line and 1 after it (usually 1% or less).
Products using this ingredient
1 of 1 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first
Definition
Potassium nitrate is the inorganic nitrate salt of potassium. It has a role as a fertilizer. It is a potassium salt and an inorganic nitrate salt.
Source: PubChem
US FDA substance register · UNII RU45X2JN0Z · registered name Potassium nitrate · single chemical substance
Cosmetic roles
Safety & regulatory references
Korea’s toxic-substance GHS classification: Warning · H272 (category 3) · H319 (category 2)
Other restriction: ban substances that deplete the ozone layer
Source: EU CosIng ingredient list
More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature
Official labels & definitions
JCIA labelling name 硝酸Ｋ: 本品は、硝酸のカリウム塩であり、次の化学式で表される。KNO3
Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)
Names & identifiers
- CAS No.chemical registry number
- 7757-79-1
- EC No.EU chemical inventory number
- 231-818-8
- DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID
- DTXSID4029692
- DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID
- DTXCID609692
- IUPAC
- Potassium nitrate
- Molecular formula
- KNO3
- Molecular weight
- 101.102 g/mol
Measured properties
- Appearance
- Potassium nitrate appears as a white to dirty gray crystalline solid. Water soluble. 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, expl · Dry Powder, Large Crystals, Liquid, Other Solid, CBI
- Odour
- Odorless · odourless
- Boiling point
- 752 °F at 760 mmHg (decomposes) (USCG, 1999) · 400
- Melting point
- 633.2 °F (USCG, 1999) · 334
- Solubility
- 35g/100ml · Sol in water, glycerol, slightly sol in alcohol
- Density
- 2.109 (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water, will sink · 2.1 at 25 °C
- pH
- 4,5-8,5 (5 % solution) · About 7
- Melting/freezing point
- 333~334 ℃
- Initial boiling point and range
- 400 ℃
- Water solubility
- 35.7 g/100㎖ (25℃)
- Relative density
- 2.1 (25℃)
- Decomposition temperature
- 400 ℃
- Molecular weight
- 101.1
Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.
Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
What products actually use it for
What the 20 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.
- Soil amendments4
- Pharmaceutical (EPA)3
- Oxidizing agent2
- Flavouring and nutrient2
- Propellants, non-motive (blowing agents)2
- Humectant2
- Dye1
- Biocide1
3 other uses
- Processing aids not otherwise specified1
- No specific technical function1
- Corrosion inhibitor1
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Irritation and sensitisation studies
3 skin studies and 2 eye studies are on record.
The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.
See all 5 studies
- Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening - Classification not possible
Skin Irritation · Screening - Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across - Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across - Classification not possible
Eye Irritation · Screening
Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard
Related literature
- Evaluation of Newly Modified Potassium Nitrate Containing Media in Detection and Antibiogram of Mycobacterium tuberculosis · 2024
- A randomised controlled trial to compare the efficacy of an aluminium lactate/potassium nitrate/hydroxylapatite toothpaste with a control toothpaste for the prevention of dentine hypersensitivity. · 2021
- Prior Application of 10% Potassium Nitrate to Reduce Postbleaching Sensitivity: A Randomized Triple-Blind Clinical Trial. · 2020
- Comparative evaluation of a low-level laser and topical desensitizing agent for treating dentinal hypersensitivity: A randomized controlled trial · 2019
- Comparison between 940 nm Laser Diode and Topical 5 % Potassium Nitrate for Tooth Desensitization. Randomized Controlled Clinical trial · 2018
Linked databases 20
- Australian Industrial Chemicals Inventory (AICIS)
- ChEBI
- ChEMBL
- China inventory of existing ingredients (IECIC)
- EU CosIng ingredient list 2
- JCIA labelling names (Japan)
- Korea Cosmetic Association ingredient dictionary
- Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)
- KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)
- MFDS (Korea) cosmetic ingredient register 2
- NIST Chemistry WebBook
- PubChem 2
- Tlooto literature search 2 3 4 5
- UniChem cross-reference IDs
- US EPA CompTox dashboard 2
- US EPA DSSTox chemical database
- US FDA substance registration (GSRS)
- US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)
- Wikidata
- Wikipedia · Korean · English · Japanese · Chinese