nitrate
Loading your saved state.
nitrate
In chemistry, a salt or ester of nitric acid. Nitrates are chemical compounds that contain the nitrate ion (NO₃⁻).
Kaliumnitrat ist eine chemische Verbindung, die in Düngemitteln und auch in Sprengstoffen verwendet wird.
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound used in fertilizers and also in explosives.
The ending '-at' in German often indicates salts of oxoacids. Similar to 'Nitrat' (nitrate, from nitric acid), there are, for example, 'Sulfat' (sulfate, from sulfuric acid) or 'Karbonat' (carbonate, from carbonic acid).
Die chemische Formel für das Nitrat-Ion ist NO₃⁻.
The chemical formula for the nitrate ion is NO₃⁻.
'Nitrat' (nitrate) is often used as the first part of compound nouns to describe a problem or a measurement. Examples are 'die Nitratbelastung' (nitrate pollution/contamination), 'der Nitratgehalt' (nitrate content), or 'das Nitratproblem' (nitrate problem).
Die hohe Nitratbelastung des Grundwassers ist ein ernstes Problem.
The high nitrate contamination of the groundwater is a serious problem.
In everyday language and in the news, 'Nitrat' (nitrate) usually refers to the contamination of water and soil by fertilizers. Words such as 'Grundwasser' (groundwater), 'Trinkwasser' (drinking water), or 'Landwirtschaft' (agriculture) point to this meaning.
Die Landwirte müssen die Nitrat-Werte im Boden reduzieren.
The farmers have to reduce the nitrate levels in the soil.
In environmental contexts, 'Nitrat' (nitrate) is often used in connection with measurements and contamination. Typical combinations are 'der Nitrat-Wert' (nitrate level), 'die Nitrat-Belastung' (nitrate contamination), or 'Nitrat im Trinkwasser' (nitrate in drinking water).
Der Grenzwert für Nitrat im Trinkwasser wurde überschritten.
The limit for nitrate in drinking water was exceeded.
phosphate
'Nitrat' and 'Phosphat' are both chemical substances that can also occur in fertilizers. For this reason, they are easily confused, especially when talking about agriculture, water, or the environment. But they are not the same substance: chemically, nitrate is related to nitric acid and contains the nitrate ion. It is often a topic when fertilizer gets into groundwater. Phosphate is related to phosphoric acid and is also an important plant nutrient, but it also occurs in detergents or foods. When talking about drinking water contaminated by fertilizer, 'Nitrat' is often the more precise word.
Im Dorf wird das Trinkwasser regelmäßig auf Nitrat geprüft.
In the village, the drinking water is regularly tested for nitrate.
Viele Waschmittel enthalten heute weniger Phosphat als früher.
Many detergents today contain less phosphate than they used to.