Its chief uses are in glass-making to promote fluidity, in metallurgy to oxidize impurities, as a constituent of gunpowder and in pyrotechny; it is also used in the manufacture of nitric acid.
The metal is also used in pyrotechny.
It is decomposed by heat, and is largely used in pyrotechny for the preparation of green fire.
It is used for producing red fire in pyrotechny and for refining sugar.