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Sodium nitrate—also known as Chile saltpeter—is an organic nitrate salt. It is a naturally occurring mineral and its chemical symbol is NaNO3. At room temperature, the compound exists as a white crystalline solid. Sodium nitrate is highly soluble in water and ammonia and is non-flammable. The compound is a strong oxidising agent. When heated to temperatures above 538°C, the compound explosively decomposes. In the 19th century, sodium nitrate was known as “white gold”. It has been categorised as the International Cancer Research Agency as likely to cause cancer to humans. [1]
