1. Sodium Nitrate (NaNO₃)
✅ Industries:
Fertilizer (Agrochemical)
Explosives (Mining, Pyrotechnics)
Food Preservation (E250 in processed meats)
Glass & Ceramic Industry
⚙️ Key Applications:
Oxidizing agent in explosives:
Used in black powder and smokeless powder
Provides oxygen to facilitate combustion
Fertilizer component:
Supplies nitrogen in soluble form; rapidly absorbed by plants
Used in greenhouse vegetables and tobacco farming
Food preservative:
Inhibits growth of bacteria like Clostridium botulinum
Common in meat curing, bacon, salami, ham
Glass industry:
Acts as a refining agent in float glass and enamel
🔬 2. Lead Nitrate [Pb(NO₃)₂]
✅ Industries:
Mining & Metallurgy
Explosives (Mining & Civil Engineering)
Chemical Manufacturing
⚙️ Key Applications:
Gold cyanidation process (gold extraction):
Lead nitrate improves leaching efficiency in gold processing
Reduces consumption of cyanide
Explosives manufacture:
Used in detonator-sensitive explosives
Acts as an oxidizing agent in high explosives
Laboratory reagent:
Also used in synthesis of other lead compounds
⚠️ Environmental and health hazards apply — sold only to licensed industries.
🔬 3. Ammonium Nitrate (NH₄NO₃)
✅ Industries:
Fertilizers
Explosives (ANFO)
Cold Packs / Refrigerants
⚙️ Key Applications:
Fertilizer:
Major nitrogen source in agriculture (34% N content)
Suitable for acidic soils and high-yield crops like corn
Explosives (ANFO):
Ammonium Nitrate + Fuel Oil = ANFO (widely used in mining, quarrying)
Very cost-effective for large blasts
Instant cold packs:
Endothermic reaction with water absorbs heat
💥 Strictly regulated due to blast potential — buyers need proper licensing.
🔬 4. Guanidine Nitrate (CH₆N₄O₃)
✅ Industries:
Pyrotechnics / Military
Propellants
Pharmaceutical Intermediate
⚙️ Key Applications:
High-energy propellants:
Used in gas generators for airbags and rocket propulsion
Burns cleanly with minimal smoke; ideal for controlled ignition
Military-grade explosives:
Base compound in advanced low-smoke explosives
Organic synthesis:
Used in making pharmaceutical intermediates and specialty chemicals
🧪 It’s a niche, high-energy material — mostly for defense contractors, research labs, and explosive manufacturers.
📊 Summary Table for Quick Reference
Compound Key Industries Applications
Sodium Nitrate Agriculture, Explosives, Food Fertilizer, Black powder, Preservative, Glass refining
Lead Nitrate Mining, Explosives Gold leaching, Detonators, Synthesis of lead compounds
Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizers, Mining High-N fertilizer, ANFO explosives, Instant cold packs
Guanidine Nitrate Defense, Pyrotechnics Airbags, Rocket propellants, Specialty explosives, Pharmaceuticals