Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Aluminum nitrate is a compound composed of aluminum (Al3+) ions and nitrate (NO3-) ions. It is often used in various industrial applications such as dyeing fabrics and manufacturing fertilizers.
Related terms
Nitrate Ion: A nitrate ion (NO3-) consists of one nitrogen atom bonded to three oxygen atoms. It carries a net charge of -1 and is commonly found in many fertilizers because plants need nitrogen for growth.
A precipitate is a solid substance that forms from a chemical reaction between two solutions. In the context of aluminum nitrate, if it reacts with another compound and forms an insoluble solid, that would be considered a precipitate.
The oxidation state (also known as the oxidation number) is a measure of the number of electrons an atom gains or loses when forming chemical bonds. Aluminum in aluminum nitrate has an oxidation state of +3.