Salts of nitric acid (HNO3), e. g. potassium nitrate, KNO3 = nitre = salt petre (used in making gunpowder). Metal nitrates are soluble in water, decompose when heated
H. J. Porter (Chairman - Technical Committee), Dictionary of Fire Technology, The Institution of Fire Engineers, The Victory Press (Leicester) Ltd. 1979 UK. (Fr Tech - Brit) {81}