term "nitrate" in the chemistry of salt is well-known nitric acid, which contains negatively charged part of NO3.In mineralogy and agriculture are still very often used other designation of nitrate - "nitrate", but here it is gradually replaced by the scientific name of a well-founded.Considering
basic chemical properties of nitrates should primarily be noted that they are formed by reaction of nitric acid with the oxides, salts, and often with a metal.At room temperature conditions almost all nitrates are highly resistant, but when the temperature rises to 200-6000 ° C, they start to melt, gradually decomposing into constituent elements.
By the way, what on what elements decompose nitrates, can be judged on what place they have in the electrochemical electrochemical series of metals.In particular, all of the nitrates, which by decomposition produce nitrites and oxygen molecules contain metals which are to the left of magnesium (for example, lithium, barium, aluminum, cobalt).Those nitrates, which decompose to form nitrogen oxides, and metal, and oxygen in the electrochemical series are arranged in an interval from magnesium to copper.
copper nitrate behaves in a special way: the oxygen during its decomposition not allocated, and a divalent copper oxide and nitrogen dioxide.And, for example, silver nitrate solution, decomposing at "only" 1700 ° C, highlights not only the pure oxygen to tetravalent nitrogen oxide, but also directly to the molecules of silver.
Also worth noting is that everything nitrate is a strong oxidant, and it is in a solid state.But the solution they lose their oxidative properties, differing thus from the same nitric acid.
Since ancient times people have noticed that the salts of nitric acid and, especially, nitrate are different fertilizers, which have the ability to restore soil fertility.Later, a large part of the nitrate was used in creating explosives and drugs.
special role belongs among the nitrates of copper nitrate.
copper nitrate (Cu (NO3) 2) is a complex inorganic substance in their structure and chemical properties related to copper salts and nitric acid.The physical properties of copper nitrate is a solid with a crystal lattice, well soluble in water and many other solutions (e.g., ethanol, liquid ammonia, ethyl acetate).At the same time as a number of other salts of nitric acid, copper nitrate absorbs moisture to form a specific crystal dark blue color, which spread out in the air with a high relative humidity.
chemical properties of nitrate connected, on the one hand, that the molar mass of copper - is constant and is equal to 64 g / mol, and the other - with the ability of copper nitrate to absorb moisture, thereby altering and its name (nitrate -trihydrate - hexahydrate), and its properties.Thus, for example, anhydrous copper hydrate is decomposed at a temperature of 1700 ° C and trihydrate - even at 1200 ° C.
molar mass of copper is also significant that the main way to obtain anhydrous copper nitrate is the synthesis of molecules of copper and copper oxide tetravalent.It should be borne in mind that copper nitrate is quite toxic substance, and therefore its manufacture and storage must be in accordance with all the essential requirements of safety rules.In particular, the need to fear that this substance is trapped on the mucous membranes or the human skin, as in this case there is a boring, which can cause various diseases.
By the way, almost all the nitrates cause certain skin lesions.For example, the same silver nitrate solution in contact with the human skin causes black spots, and if it hold for a long time, this may result in a burn.
