Sodium nitrate exist naturally in Chile and Peru. It is a white solid with the formula of NaNO3. It is very soluble in water and is also a good source of nitrate anion, which is greatly used by many industries. Being available as a natural resource, sodium nitrate is mined extensively to meet its huge demand till the 20th century. Read More..

Nitrate salts are bounded within the mineral caliche ore and serves as the main source of sodium nitrate till the 20th century. German chemist Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch developed a process to synthesize nitrate on an industrial scale.