ScienceJuly 13, 2026
nitrate
/ˈnaɪ.treɪt/
Definition
A chemical compound containing nitrogen and oxygen that acts as an essential nutrient for marine organisms.
Etymology
Derived from the French 'nitrate', which was formed from 'nitre' (saltpeter) and the suffix '-ate', used in chemistry to denote a salt or ester. It traces back ultimately to the Greek 'nitron' and Egyptian 'netjeri'.
In the news
The article uses nitrate as an example of a key nutrient brought to the ocean surface by turbulence, which is necessary to support the marine food web. If these nutrients aren't properly transported from the deep ocean, the entire ecosystem could collapse.
Tiny Underwater Waves in the Ocean Can Affect the Climate Thousands of Kilometres Away
Read the full article ↗ZME Science