Nitraria 
cymes, black or red drupes, and seeds sometimes with 
three seed-leaves. See danwuch and lotus-tree, 3. 
nitrate (m'trat), . [< NL. nitratum, nitrate 
(prop. neut. of nitratus), < L. nitratus, mixed 
with natron, < nitrum, natron, NL. niter: see 
niter, nitric.] A salt of nitric acid. The nitrates 
are generally soluble in water, and easily decomposed by 
heat. They are much employed as oxidizing agents, and 
may be prepared by the action of nitric acid on metals 
or on metallic oxids. Barium nitrate. See barium. 
Glyceryl nitrate. Same as nitroglycerin. Nitrate of 
potash, niter. Nitrate of silver, silver oxidized and 
dissolved by nitric acid diluted with two or three times its 
weight of water, forming a solution which yields transpa- 
rent tabular crystals on cooling, these crystals constituting 
the ordinary commercial silver nitrate. When fused the 
nitrate is of a grayish-brown color, and may be cast into 
small sticks in a mold ; these sticks form the lapis inferna- 
lis or lunar caustic employed by surgeons as a cautery. It 
is sometimes employed for giving a black color to the hair, 
and is the basis of the indelible ink used for marking linen. 
It is also very largely used in photography. Also called 
argentic nitrate. Nitrate of soda, sodium nitrate, a salt 
analogous in its chemical properties to potassium nitrate 
or niter. It commonly crystallizes in obtuse rhombohe- 
drons. It is found native in enormous quantities in the 
rainless district on the borders of Chili, whence the world's 
supply is obtained. Its chief uses are as a fertilizer, and 
for the production of nitric acid and saltpeter (potassium 
nitrate). It cannot be directly used for the manufacture 
of gunpowder, on account of its hygroscopic quality. See 
saltpeter. 
nitrate (m'trat), r. t. ; pret. and pp. nitrated, 
ppr. nitrating. [< nitrate, n.] 1. To treat or 
prepare with nitric acid: as, nitrated guncot- 
ton. 2. To convert (a base) into a salt by 
combination with nitric acid. 
nitratin (m'tra-tin), . [< nitrate + -i 2 .] 
Native sodium nitrate. Also called soda niter. 
See niter and nitrate. 
nitration (m-tra'sbon), n. The process or act 
of introducing into a compound by substitu- 
tion the radical nitryl, NO 2 . 
nitre, n. See niter. 
Nitrian (nit'ri-an), a. [< Gr. TSirpia, a town in 
Lower Egypt, pi. "Sirpiai, Nir/xutu, atrpuu, the 
Natron Lakes, < vnpia, a place where natron 
was dug, < virpov, natron: see niter, natron."] 
Of or pertaining to the valley of the Natron 
Lakes (Nitriaa), southwest of the delta of the 
Nile, at one time a chief seat of the worship of 
Serapis and afterward celebrated for its Chris- 
tian monasteries and ascetics. 
Those fierce bands of Nitrian and Syrian ascetics who, 
reared in the narrowest of schools, treated any divergence 
from their own standard of opinion as a crime which they 
were entitled to punish in their own riotous fashion. 
Encyc. Brit., XVI. 701. 
nitriary (nl'tri-a-ri), .; pi. nitriaries (-riz). 
[Irreg. for "nitrury, < L. nitraria, a place where 
natron was found (cf. Gr. virpia, in same sense), 
< nitrum, natron: see niter."} An artificial bed 
of animal matter for the formation of niter; a 
nlace where niter is refined. 
nitric (ni'trik), a. [=F. nitrique = Sj>. nitrico = 
Pg. nitrico, < NL. nitricus, < nitrum, niter : see ni- 
ter."] Of, pertaining to, or derived from niter: 
applied in chemistry to oxygen compounds of 
nitrogen which contain more oxygen than those 
other compounds to which the epithet nitrous 
is applied. See nitrous Nitric add, HNOg, an 
acid prepared by distilling a mixture of sulphuric acid 
and sodium nitrate. When pure it is a colorless liquid, 
but it is usually yellowish, owing to a small admixture of 
oxids of nitrogen. Its smell is very strong and disagree- 
able, and it is intensely acrid. Applied to the skin it cau- 
terizes and destroys it. It is a powerful oxidizing agent, 
and acts with greatenergyonmostcombustiblesubstances, 
simple or compound, and upon most of the metals. It ex- 
ists in combination with the bases potash, soda, lime, and 
magnesia, irftoth the vegetable and the mineral kingdom. 
It is employed in etching on steel or copper ; as a solvent 
of tin to form with that metal a mordant for some of the 
finest dyes; in metallurgy and assaying ; also in medicine, 
in a diluted state, as a tonic, and in affections of the ali- 
mentary tract and of the liver ; and in concentrated form 
as a caustic. In the arts it is known by the name of aqua 
fortis. Also called azotic add. Nitric-acid furnace, 
in acid- woi ks, a small furnace where sodium nitrate ana 
sulphuric acid are roasted to supply nitrous fumes for the 
oxidation of sulphurous acid to sulphuric acid. Nitric 
oxid, N 2 O 2 or NO, a gaseous compound of nitrogen and 
oxygen, produced by the action of dilute nitric acid upon 
copper. 
nitride (ni'trid or -trid), n. [< niter (NL. ni- 
trum) + -idel.] A compound of nitrogen with 
any other element or radical, particularly a com- 
pound of nitrogen with phosphorus, boron, sili- 
con, or a metal. 
nitriferous (m-trif'e-rus), a. [< NL. nitrum, 
niter, + L. ferre = E. bear^.] Niter-bearing: 
as, nitriferous strata. 
nitrifiab'le (ni'tri-fl-a-bl), a. Capable of nitri- 
fication. See nitrification. 
nitrification (nl"tri-fi-ka'shqn), n. [= F. nitri- 
fication = Pg. nitrificagao, <'NL. nitrum, niter, 
+ -Jicatio(n-): see -fication.] The process, in- 
duced by certain microbes, by which the nitro- 
4000 
gen of organic material in the soil is oxidized 
to nitric acid. A certain degree of heat and the pres- 
ence of moisture, air, and a base which may combine with 
the acid are necessary conditions of nitrification. 
The presence of water may indeed be considered as one 
of the conditions essential to nitrification. 
Plaufair, tr. of Liebig's Chemistry, ii. 8. (Latham.) 
nitrify (ui'tri-fi), v. ; pret. and pp. nitrified, ppr. 
nitrijyiny. [=F. nitrifier = Pg. nitrificar, < NL. 
nitrum, niter, 4- L. facere, make.] I. tntiin. 
To convert into niter. 
Nitrogen that may be present [in germinating pi ants I in 
a nitrified form, or in a form easily nitrified, may escape 
assimilation by being set free by the denitrifying ferment 
described by Gayon and Dupetit and Springer. 
Science, IX. 111. 
II. intrans. To be converted into niter. 
nitrine (nl'trin), w. [< nitrum + -ie 2 .] A kind 
of nitroglycerin patented by Nobel, a Swedish 
engineer, in 1866. 
nitrite (ni'trit), n. [= F. nitrite; as nitrum + 
-ite 2 .] A salt of nitrous acid. Azotite is a syno- 
nym Nitrite of amyl. See amyl*. 
nitro-, nitr-. [< NL. nitrum, niter (see niter); 
in comp. referring to nitryl, nitric, or nitrogen.'] 
An element in some compounds, meaning ' ni- 
ter,' and usually implying ' nitrogen ' or ' nitric 
acid'; specifically, as a prefix in chemical 
words, indicating the presence of the radical 
nitryl (NO 2 ) in certain compounds: as, nitro- 
aniline, wih'anisic acid, wifro-benzamide, nitro- 
benzoic acid. 
nitro-aerial (nl"tr6-a-e'ri-al), . Consisting of 
or containing niter and air'. Bay. 
nitrobarite (nl-tro-bar'It), n. [< nitrum (nitric) 
+ bar(ium) + -ite 2 .] Native barium nitrate. 
nitrobenzene (nl-tro-ben'zen), n. [< nitrum 
(nitric) + benzene.] Same as nitrobcnzol. 
nitrobenzol, nitrobenzole (nl-tro-ben'zol), . 
[< nitrum {nitric) + benzol.] Aliquid^gHsNOg) 
prepared by adding benzol drop by drop to 
fuming nitric acid. It closely resembles oil of bitter 
almonds in flavor, and, though it has taken a prominent 
place among the narcotic poisons, it is largely employed, 
as a substitute for that oil, in the manufacture of con- 
fectionery and in the preparation of perfumery. It is im- 
portant as a source of aniline in the manufacture of dyes. 
It is known also as essence of mirbane, a fancy name given 
to it by M. Collas of Paris. See aniline. Also, more prop- 
erly, called nitrobenzene. 
nitrocalcite (nl-tro-kal'sit), n. [< nitrum (ni- 
tric) + calcite.] Native nitrate of calcium, it 
occurs as a pulverulent efflorescence on old walls and lime- 
stone rocks, has a sharp bitter taste, and is of a grayish- 
white color. 
nitrocellulose (ni-tro-sel'u-los), n. [< nitrum 
(nitric) + cellulose.] A cellulose ether ; a com- 
pound of nitric acid and cellulose. The name is 
given both to guncotton and to the substance from which 
collodion is made. See guncotton and collodion. 
nitrochloroform (ni-tro-klo'ro-form), n. [< ni- 
trum (nitric) + chloroform.] Same as chloro- 
picrin. 
nitro-compound (m'tr6-kom // pound), n. A car- 
bon compound which is formed from another 
by the substitution of the monatomic radical 
NO2 for hydrogen, and in which the nitrogen 
atom is regarded as directly joined to a carbon 
atom. 
nitrogelatin (ni-tro-jel'a-tin), . [< nitrum (ni- 
tric) + gelatin.] An explosive consisting large- 
ly of nitroglycerin with smaller proportions of 
guncotton and camphor. At ordinary temperatures 
it is a thick semi-transparent jelly. It is less sensible to 
percussion than dynamite, and is less altered by submer- 
gence. 
nitrogen (ni'tro-jen), . [= F. nitrogene = &p. 
nitrogeno = Pg. nitrogeno, < NL. nitrogenum, < 
nitrum, niter (with ret', to nitric acid), + -gen, 
producing: see -gen.] Chemical symbol, N; 
atomic weight, 14. An element existing in 
nature as a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, 
reducible to a liquid under extreme pressure 
and cold. Its specific gravity is .9674. It is neither 
combustible nor a supporter of combustion, nor does it 
enter readily into combination with any other element At 
a high temperature it unites directly with magnesium, sili- 
con, chromium, and other metals. It forms about 77 per 
cent, of the weight of the atmosphere, and is a necessary 
constituent of all animal and vegetable tissues. In com- 
bination with hydrogen it forms the strong base ammo- 
nium, and with hydrogen and oxygen a series of acids of 
which nitric acid is commercially the most important. It 
may be most readily prepared from atmospheric air. There 
are five known compounds of nitrogen and oxygen viz., 
nitrous oxid or nitrogen monoxid, N 2 O ; nitric oxid, Ng02 ; 
nitrogen trioxid, N 2 S ; nitrogen tetroxid, N 2 C>4 ; nitro- 
gen pentoxid, N 2 (>5. Formerly called azote. 
nitrogeneoust (nl-tro-je'ne-us), a. [< tiitro/jai 
f -eons.] Same as nitrogenous. Smart. 
nitrogenic (nl-tro-jen'ik), a. [< nitrogen + -ic.] 
Same as nitrogenous. 
He spoke further of the action of nitric acid on carbonic 
and nitrogenic compounds. Nature, XL. 312. 
nitrous 
nitrogenize (nl-troj'e-mz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
nitrotjenized, ppr. nitrogenizing. [< nitrogen + 
-ize.] To impregnate or imbue with nitrogen. 
Hoblyn. Also spelled nitrogcnisc. Nitrogenized 
foods, nutritive substances containing nitrogen princi- 
pally proteids. Non-nitrogenized foods, such foods as 
contain no nitrogen principally carbohydrates and fats. 
nitrogenous (nl-troj'e-nus), a. [< nitrogen + 
-ous.] Pertaining to or containing nitrogen. 
Also nitrogenic. 
A little meat, fish, eggs, milk, beans, pease, or other ni- 
trogenous food. The Century, XXXVI. 260. 
nitroglucose (nl-tro-glo'kos), n. [< nitrum (ni- 
tric) + glucose.] An organic substance pro- 
duced by acting on finely powdered cane-sugar 
with nitrosulphuric acid. In photography it has 
been added in very small quantities to collodion, with 
the view of increasing the density of the negative. It 
renders the sensitized film less sensitive to light. 
nitroglycerin, nitroglycerine (ni-tro-glis'e- 
rin), n. [< nitrum (nitric) + glycerin.] A com- 
pound (C 3 H 6 N 3 O9) produced by the action of 
a mixture of strong nitric and sulphuric acids 
on glycerin at low temperatures. It is a light- 
yellow, oily liquid, of specific gravity 1.6, and is a most 
powerful explosive agent, detonating when struck, or 
when heated quickly to 306" F. For use in blasting it is 
mixed with one fourth its weight of silicious earth, and is 
then called dynamite. Taken internally, it is a violent 
poison, but in minute doses is used in medicine in the 
treatment of angina pectoris and heart-failure. Also called 
glonoin, nttroleum, blasting-oil, glyceryl nitrate, trinitrate 
of glyceryl, and trinitrin. 
nitrohydrochloric (ni-tro-hi-dro-klo'rik), a. 
[< nitrum (nitric) + hydrochloric.] A term used 
only in the following phrase Nitrohydrochloric 
acid, an acid composed of a mixture of concentrated ni- 
tric and hydrochloric acids, used for the solution of many 
substances, more especially of the noble metals. Also 
called nitromuriatic acid and aqua regia. 
nitroleum (m-tro'le-um), n. [< NL. nitrum, 
niter, + L. oleum = Gr. I'Aatov, oil.] Same as 
nitroglycerin. E. H. Knight. 
nitromagnesite (nl-tro-mag'ne-s!t), n. [< NL. 
nitrum -r magnesium + -j(e 2 .] A native hy- 
drated nitrate of magnesium found as an efflo- 
rescence with nitrocalcite in limestone caves. 
nitrometer (ni-trom'e-ter), n. [< NL. nitrum, 
niter, + Gr. fttrpov, a measure.] An apparatus 
used for collecting and measuring nitrogen gas, 
or for decomposing nitrogen oxids and subse- 
quently measuring the residual or resulting 
gases. 
nitromuriatic (ni-tro-mu-ri-at'ik), . [< nitrum 
(nitric) + muriatic.] The older term for nitro- 
hydrocnloric. 
nitronaphthalene (ni-tro-naf'tha-len), . [< 
nitrum (nitric) + naphthalene.] A derivative 
from naphthalene produced by nitric acid. 
There are three of these nitronapthalenes, arising from 
one, two, or three atoms of hydrogen being replaced by a 
corresponding quantity of nitryl. 
nitrOBO-. A prefix denoting that the compound 
to which it is attached contains the univalent 
compound radical NO, or uitrosyl. 
nitro-substitution (n!-tr6-sub-sti-tu'shon) ; . 
The act of displacing an atom or a radical m a 
complex body by substituting for it the univa- 
lent radical nitryl, NO2- 
nitrosulphuric (ni"tro-sul-fu'rik), a. [< nitrum 
(nitric) + sulphuric.] ' Consisting of a mixture 
of sulphuric acid and some nitrogen oxid : as, 
nitrosulphuric acid, formed by mixing one part 
of niter with eight or ten parts of sulphuric 
acid: a useful agent for separating the silver 
from the copper of old plated goods. 
nitrosyl (ni'tro-sil), n. [< NL. nitrosus, nitrous, 
+ -yL] A univalent radical consisting of an 
atom of nitrogen combined with one of oxygen. 
It cannot exist in the free state, but its bromide and iodide 
have been isolated, and the radical exists in many complex 
substances forming the .so-called nitroso-compoundt. 
nitrous (ni'trus), a. [= F. nitreux = Sp. Pg. 
It. nitroso, <NL. nitrosus, nitrous, < L. nitrosus, 
full of natron, < nitrum, natron (NL. niter) : see 
niter.] In chem., of, pertaining to, or derived 
from niter: applied to an oxygen compound 
which contains less oxygen than those in which 
the epithet nitric is used: thus, nitrous oxid 
(N 2 O), nitric oxid (N 2 O 2 ) ; nitrous acid (HNOo), 
nitric acid (HNO 3 ), etc Nitrous acid, HNO 2 , an 
acid produced by decomposing nitrites : it very readily be- 
comes oxidized to nitric acid. Nitrous ether, ethyl ni- 
trite, C 2 H5N0 2 , a derivative of alcohol in which hydroxyl 
(OH) is replaced by the group NOo. It is a very volatile 
liquid. When inhaled it acts very much as amyl nitrite 
does. Nitrous oxid gas, NoO, a combination of nitro- 
gen and oxygen, formerly called the dephlogixticatefl nitnntx 
gas. Under oidinary conditions of temperature and pres- 
sure this substance is gaseous ; it has a sweet taste and a 
faint agreeable odor. When inhaled it produces uncon- 
sciousness and insensibility to pain : hence it is used as an 
anesthetic during short surgical operations. When it is 
breathed diluted with air an exhilarating or intoxicat- 
ing effect is produced, under the influence of which the 
