Ni"tra*tine (?), n. (Min.) A mineral occurring in transparent crystals,
usually of a white, sometimes of a reddish gray, or lemon-yellow,
color; native sodium nitrate. It is used in making nitric acid and for
manure. Called also soda niter.
Ni"tre (?), n. (Chem.) See Niter.
Ni"tri*a*ry (?), n. [See Niter.] An artificial bed of animal matter for
the manufacture of niter by nitrification. See Nitrification, 2.
Ni"tric (?), a. [Cf. F. nitrique. See Niter.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining
to, or containing, nitrogen; specifically, designating any one of those
compounds in which, as contrasted with nitrous compounds, the element
has a higher valence; as, nitric oxide; nitric acid.
Nitric acid, a colorless or yellowish liquid obtained by distilling a
nitrate with sulphuric acid. It is powerfully corrosive, being a strong
acid, and in decomposition a strong oxidizer. -- Nitric anhydride, a
white crystalline oxide of nitrogen (N2O5), called nitric pentoxide,
and regarded as the anhydride of nitric acid. -- Nitric oxide, a
colorless poisous gas (NO) obtained by treating nitric acid with
copper. On contact with the air or with oxygen, it becomes reddish
brown from the formation of nitric dioxide or peroxide.
Ni"tride (? or ?), n. [fromNitrogen.] (Chem.) A binary compound of
nitrogen with a more metallic element or radical; as, boric nitride.
Ni*trif"er*ous (?), a. [Niter + -ferous.] Bearing niter; yielding, or
containing, niter.
Ni`tri*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. nitrification. see Nitrify.] 1.
(Chem.) (a) The act, process, or result of combining with nitrogen or
some of its compounds. (b) The act or process of oxidizing nitrogen or
its compounds so as to form nitrous or nitric acid.
2. A process of oxidation, in which nitrogenous vegetable and animal
matter in the presence of air, moisture, and some basic substances, as
lime or alkali carbonate, is converted into nitrates.
The process is going on at all times in porous soils and in water
contaminated with nitrogenous matter, and is supposed to be due to the
presence of an organized ferment or ferments, called nitrification
ferments. In former times the process was extensively made use of in
the production of saltpeter.
Ni"tri*fi`er (?), n. (Chem.) An agent employed in nitrification.
Ni"tri*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nitrified (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Nitrifying (?).] [Niter + -fy: cf. F. nitrifer. See Niter.] (Chem.) To
combine or impregnate with nitrogen; to convert, by oxidation, into
nitrous or nitric acid; to subject to, or produce by, nitrification.
Ni"trile (? or ?), n. [See Nitro- .] (Chem.) Any one of a series of
cyanogen compounds; particularly, one of those cyanides of alcohol
radicals which, by boiling with acids or alkalies, produce a carboxyl
acid, with the elimination of the nitrogen as ammonia.
The nitriles are named with reference to the acids produced by their
decomposition, thus, hydrocyanic acid is formic nitrile, and methyl
cyanide is acetic nitrile.
Ni"trite (?), n. [Cf. F. nitrite. See Niter.] (Chem.) A salt of nitrous
acid.
Amyl nitrite, a yellow oily volatile liquid, used in medicine as a
depressant and a vaso-dilator. Its inhalation produces an instantaneous
flushing of the face.
Ni"tro- (&?;). 1. A combining form or an adjective denoting the
presence of niter.
2. (Chem.) A combining form (used also adjectively) designating certain
compounds of nitrogen or of its acids, as nitrohydrochloric,
nitrocalcite; also, designating the group or radical NO2, or its
compounds, as nitrobenzene.
Nitro group, the radical NO2; -- called also nitroxyl.
Ni`tro*ben"zene (? or ?), n. [Nitro- + benzene.] (Chem.) A yellow
aromatic liquid (C6H5.NO2), produced by the action of nitric acid on
benzene, and called from its odor imitation oil of bitter almonds, or
essence of mirbane. It is used in perfumery, and is manufactured in
large quantities in the preparation of aniline. Fornerly called also
nitrobenzol.
{ Ni`tro*ben"zol, Ni`tro*ben"zole, (&?; or &?;) }, n. See Nitrobenzene.
Ni`tro*cal"cite (?), n. [Nitro- + calcite.] (Min.) Nitrate of calcium,
a substance having a grayish white color, occuring in efflorescences on
old walls, and in limestone caves, especially where there exists
decaying animal matter.
Ni`tro*car"bol (?), n. [Nitro- + carbon + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.) See
Nitromethane.
Ni`tro*cel"lu*lose` (?), n. [Nitro- + cellulose.] (Chem.) See Gun
cotton, under Gun.
Ni`tro-chlo"ro*form (?), n. [Nitro- + chloroform.] (Chem.) Same as
Chlorpicrin.
Ni"tro*form (?), n. [Nitro- + formyl.] (Chem.) A nitro derivative of
methane, analogous to chloroform, obtained as a colorless oily or
crystalline substance, CH.(NO2)3, quite explosive, and having
well-defined acid properties.
Ni`tro*gel"a*tin (?), n. [Nitro- + gelatin.] An explosive consisting of
gun cotton and camphor dissolved in nitroglycerin. [Written also
nitrogelatine.]
Ni`tro*gen (?), n. [L. nitrum natron + -gen: cf. F. nitrogène. See
Niter.] (Chem.) A colorless nonmetallic element, tasteless and
odorless, comprising four fifths of the atmosphere by volume. It is
chemically very inert in the free state, and as such is incapable of
supporting life (hence the name azote still used by French chemists);
but it forms many important compounds, as ammonia, nitric acid, the
cyanides, etc, and is a constituent of all organized living tissues,
animal or vegetable. Symbol N. Atomic weight 14. It was formerly
regarded as a permanent noncondensible gas, but was liquefied in 1877
by Cailletet of Paris, and Pictet of Geneva.
Ni"tro*gen*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Nitrogenized (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Nitrogenizing.] (Chem.) To combine, or impregnate, with nitrogen or
its compounds.
Ni*trog"e*nous (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling,
nitrogen; as, a nitrogenous principle; nitrogenous compounds.
Nitrogenous foods. See 2d Note under Food, n., 1.
Ni`tro*glyc"er*in (?), n. [Nitro- + glycerinn.] (Chem.) A liquid
appearing like a heavy oil, colorless or yellowish, and consisting of a
mixture of several glycerin salts of nitric acid, and hence more
properly called glycerin nitrate. It is made by the action of nitric
acid on glycerin in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is extremely
unstable and terribly explosive. A very dilute solution is used in
medicine as a neurotic under the name of glonion. [Written also
nitroglycerine.]
A great number of explosive compounds have been produced by mixing
nitroglycerin with different substances; as, dynamite, or giant powder,
nitroglycerin mixed with siliceous earth; lithofracteur, nitroglycerin
with gunpowder, or with sawdust and nitrate of sodium or barium;
Colonia powder, gunpowder with nitroglycerin; dualin, nitroglycerin
with sawdust, or with sawdust and nitrate of potassium and some other
substances; lignose, wood fiber and nitroglycerin.
Ni`tro*hy`dro*chlo"ric (?), a. [Nitro- + hydrochloric.] (Chem.) Of,
pertaining to, or containing, nitric and hydrochloric acids.
Nitrohydrochloric acid, a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acids,
usually in the proportion of one part of the former to three of the
latter, and remarkable for its solvent action on gold and platinum; --
called also nitromuriatic acid, and aqua regia.
Ni"trol (?), n. (Chem.) Any one of a series of hydrocarbons containing
the nitro and the nitroso or isonitroso group united to the same carbon
atom.
Ni*tro"le*um (?), n. [NL., fr. L. nitrum natron + oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Nitroglycerin.
Ni*trol"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, derived from, or designating, a nitrol;
as, a nitrolic acid.
Ni`tro*mag"ne*site (?), n. [Nitro- + magnesite.] (Chem.) Nitrate of
magnesium, a saline efflorescence closely resembling nitrate of
calcium.
Ni*trom"e*ter (?), n. [Nitro- + -meter: cf. F. nitromètre.] (Chem.) An
apparatus for determining the amount of nitrogen or some of its
compounds in any substance subjected to analysis; an azotometer.
Ni`tro*meth"ane (?), n. [Nitro- + methane.] (Chem.) A nitro derivative
of methane obtained as a mobile liquid; -- called also nitrocarbol.
Ni`tro*mu`ri*at"ic (?), a. [Cf. F. nitromuriatique. See Nitro-, and
Muriatic.] (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or composed of, nitric acid and
muriatic acid; nitrohydrochloric. See Nitrohydrochloric.
Ni`tro*ph"nol (?), n. [Nitro- + phenol.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of
nitro derivatives of phenol. They are yellow oily or crystalline
substances and have well-defined acid properties, as picric acid.
Ni`tro*prus"sic (? or &?;), a. [Nitro- + prussic.] (Chem.) Pertaining
to, derived from, or designating, a complex acid called nitroprussic
acid, obtained indirectly by the action of nitric acid on potassium
ferrocyanide (yellow prussiate), as a red crystalline unstable
substance. It forms salts called nitroprussides, which give a rich
purple color with alkaline sulphides.
Ni`tro*prus"side (?), n. See Nitroprussic.
Ni`tro*qui"nol (?), n. [Nitro- + quine + -ol.] (Chem.) A hypothetical
nitro derivative of quinol or hydroquinone, not known in the free
state, but forming a well defined series of derivatives.
Ni`tro*sac"cha*rin (?), n. [Nitro- + saccharin.] (Chem.) An explosive
nitro derivative of certain sugars, analogous to nitroglycerin, gun
cotton, etc.
Ni`tro*sal`i*cyl"ic (?), a. [Nitro- + salicylic.] (Chem.) Of,
pertaining to, or designating, a nitro derivative of salicylic acid,
called also anilic acid.
Ni*trose" (?), a. (Chem.) See Nitrous.
Ni*tro"so- (&?; or &?;). (Chem.) A prefix (also used adjectively)
designating the group or radical NO, called the nitroso group, or its
compounds.
Ni*tro"syl (?), n. [Nitroso- + -yl.] (Chem.) the radical NO, called
also the nitroso group. The term is sometimes loosely used to designate
certain nitro compounds; as, nitrosyl sulphuric acid. Used also
adjectively.
Ni`tro*syl"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or containing,
nitrosyl; as, nitrosylic acid.
Ni"trous (?), a. [L. nitrosus full of natron: cf. F. nitreux. See
Niter.] 1. Of, pertaining to, or containing, niter; of the quality of
niter, or resembling it.
2. (Chem.) Of, pertaining to, or designating, any one of those
compounds in which nitrogen has a relatively lower valence as
contrasted with nitric compounds.
Nitrous acid (Chem.), a hypothetical acid of nitrogen HNO2, not known
in the free state, but forming a well known series of salts, viz., the
nitrites. -- Nitrous oxide. See Laughing gas.
Ni*trox"yl (?), n. [Nitro- + oxygen + -yl.] (Chem.) The group NO2,
usually called the nitro group.
||Ni"trum (?), n. [L., natron. See Niter.] (Old Chem.) Niter.
||Nitrum flammans [L., flaming niter] (Old Chem.), ammonium nitrate; --
||probably so called because it deflagerates when suddenly heated.