Saltpeter

Name Variations

 * potassium nitrate
 * saltpetre
 * potassium salt

About Saltpeter
Wikipedia Article About Saltpeter on Wikipedia

The chemical compound potassium nitrate is a naturally occurring mineral source of nitrogen. It is a nitrate with chemical formula KNO3. When it burns, it shows a bright pink to purple color.

Its common names include saltpetre (from Medieval Latin sal petrae: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt of Petra"), American English salt peter, Nitrate of potash and nitre. The name salt peter is also applied to sodium nitrate.