How to Use potassium nitrate in a Sentence

potassium nitrate

noun
  • This gel is made of 5 percent potassium nitrate with no parabens and sulfates.
    — Natalie Alcala, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 July 2023
  • Stumps of larger vines can be killed by drilling holes and filling with molasses or saltpeter (potassium nitrate).
    — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 16 Aug. 2021
  • Maybe part of it is that potassium nitrate is one of the ingredients in gunpowder.
    — Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2020
  • And urine was, too, a source of potassium nitrate, one of the ingredients of gunpowder.
    — The Economist, 30 Dec. 2020
  • Chemists became more creative, adding in sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate.
    — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025
  • To keep it from melting, the ice was treated with potassium nitrate, otherwise known as saltpetre.
    — Tulasi Srinivas, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020
  • Sodium nitrite and potassium nitrate are key ingredients in curing meat.
    — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 23 Sep. 2020
  • Historically, the best natural source of saltpeter, the common name for potassium nitrate, has been from caves caked with bat droppings.
    — Kevin Davenport, idahostatesman, 3 July 2018
  • But the sulfur and potassium nitrate used in the 14th and 15th centuries would have been more contaminated.
    — Eric Niiler, Wired, 29 Sep. 2021
  • That process, essentially, involves creating a capsule inside which a salt such as potassium nitrate could expand and contract.
    — IEEE Spectrum, 27 Feb. 2014
  • Two specific ingredients to look for are potassium nitrate and stannous fluoride.
    — Lacey Muinos, Health, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The black powder used as propellant in 19th-century guns produced thick plumes of lead, carbon, sulfur, and potassium nitrate when combusted.
    — Aaron Mak, Slate Magazine, 17 July 2017
  • For ages, the main ingredients of gunpowder have consisted of sulfur, carbon and potassium nitrate, commonly known as saltpeter.
    — The New York Times, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2021
  • Homemade smoke bombs are usually made with gunpowder or potassium nitrate, an ingredient in fertilizer.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 17 Apr. 2021
  • The kit uses three whitening ingredients, amorphous calcium phosphate, fluoride and potassium nitrate, to help whiten teeth and comes in a range of concentrations.
    — Korin Miller, wsj.com, 20 Sep. 2023
  • Potash includes potassium nitrate, potassium chloride and potassium sulfate.
    — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 8 Dec. 2025
  • Starting around the 19th century, fireworks displays advanced from a whiteish image to a broader spectrum of colors through the introduction of potassium nitrate.
    — Russell Flannery, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Use toothpaste and mouth rinse with hydroxyapatite or fluoride; potassium nitrate is also good for sensitivity and found in pastes like Sensodyne.
    — Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 10 Dec. 2021
  • These included sulfites, potassium sorbate, potassium nitrate, acetates, acetic acid, and sodium erythorbate.
    — Jamie Ducharme, Health, 9 Jan. 2026
  • The brand offers this natural formula, which contains potassium nitrate to reduce sensitivity.
    — Lacey Muinos, Health, 11 Dec. 2023
  • Other potential elements include sulfur or pitch, saltpeter (namely potassium nitrate, a salt that forms on the surfaces of rock), and turpentine, which is an oily extract obtained from coniferous trees.
    — Marisa Sloan, Discover Magazine, 12 Oct. 2022
  • Lipari suggests those with sensitive teeth keep their eyes peeled for whitening toothpastes powered by the ingredient potassium nitrate, which helps reduce overall sensitivity.
    — Tiffany Dodson, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Whitening products that promote safe bleaching and protect your teeth from sensitivity with a low concentration of hydrogen peroxide or contain potassium nitrate is your best option.
    — The Salt Lake Tribune, 21 Nov. 2022
  • Six preservatives — sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate, sorbates, potassium metabisulfite, acetates and acetic acid — were linked to up to a 32% higher risk of prostate cancer, breast cancer and cancer of all kinds.
    — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
  • As someone with sensitive teeth herself, Lacey looks for toothpastes that contain potassium nitrate to alleviate sensitivity.
    — Lacey Muinos, Health, 11 Dec. 2023
  • The room located within the same building contained 28 additional containers with gasoline, sulfur powder, and potassium nitrate.
    — Katherine Lam, Fox News, 15 July 2018
  • This easy-to-use and suitcase-friendly kit features heat technology, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium nitrate to rapidly whiten smiles with zero sensitivity or discomfort.
    — Katie Chang, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022
  • The solution was filtered, purified and crystallized into usable potassium nitrate before being transported to gunpowder mills.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • In the 19th century, bat guano was mined from American caves to extract nitrates, which were chemically refined into potassium nitrate (saltpeter), a key component of gunpowder.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Though some of these preservatives were not associated with cancer incidence, others were, including potassium sorbate, potassium metabisulfite, sodium nitrite, potassium nitrate and acetic acid.
    — Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 8 Jan. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'potassium nitrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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