Caesium nitrate

Cesium nitrate or cesium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula CsNO3. An alkali metal nitrate, it is used in pyrotechnic compositions, as a colorant and an oxidizer, e.g. in decoys and illumination flares. The cesium emissions are chiefly due to two powerful spectral lines at 852.113 nm and 894.347 nm.

Cesium nitrate prisms are used in infrared spectroscopy, in x-ray phosphors, and in scintillation counters. It is also used in making optical glasses and lenses.

As with other alkali metal nitrates, cesium nitrate decomposes on gentle heating to give cesium nitrite:
2CsNO3 → 2CsNO2 + O2

Cesium also forms two unusual acid nitrates, which can be described as CsNO3·HNO3 and CsNO3·2HNO3 (melting points 100 °C and 36–38 °C respectively).

References

External links
Cesium Compounds:  Nuclear Power Plant Emissions
HSNO Chemical Classification Information Database

Category:Nitrates
Category:Pyrotechnic oxidizers
Category:Pyrotechnic colorants