NITRE  , the name given to naturally occurring See also:

• POTASSIUM [symbol K (from kalium), atomic weight 39.114 0=16)]

potassium nitrate; " cubic nitre " is See also:

• SODIUM [symbol Na, from Lat. natrium; atomic weight 23.00 (0=16)]

sodium nitrate . The word is adapted from See also:

• LAT

Lat. nitrum, which is itself adapted from Gr. virpov . These words were originally applied to the naturally occurring sodium carbonate; the connexion with potassium nitrate (sal petrae or sal petrosum) may be traced to Raimon See also:

• LULL (or LvLLY), RAIMON, or RAYMOND (c. 1235-1315)

Lull's name sal nitri, which substance, however, he distinguished from nitrum . In the 16th See also:

• CENTURY (from Lat. centuria, a division of a hundred men)

century the See also:

• ANCIENT
• ANCIENT (also spelt ANTIENT; derived, through the Fr. ancien, old, from the late Lat. antianum, from ante, before)

ancient nitrum became altered to natron, a See also:

• TERM

term still used for native sodium carbonate, while nitrum, and its See also:

• ADAPTATION (from Lat. adaptare. to fit to)

adaptation nitre, were retained for potassium nitrate or See also:

• SALTPETRE (from the Lat. sal, salt, Petra, a rock)

saltpetre (q.v.) .