What does nitrated mean?
Nitrated means treated with a nitrate, most often in the production of photographic materials. Historically, photographic plates, film, or paper were treated with silver nitrate, which formed a light-sensitive silver compound in the emulsion. Exposure to light then initiated a chemical change that allowed the image to be developed and fixed. In chemical contexts, nitrated may also describe a substance combined with a nitrate or converted into a nitrate compound. Although the adjective is especially associated with the history of photography, the term can appear in technical descriptions of chemical treatment and industrial materials. It should not be confused with nitrate, the noun for a salt derived from nitric acid or the verb for applying such a treatment.
Treated with or containing a nitrate, especially silver nitrate, to make a photographic material light-sensitive.
"The photographer placed the nitrated plate in the developing tray."
Most commonly encountered in descriptions of photographic film, plates, and paper.
To treat a substance or material with a nitrate, especially silver nitrate.
"The technician nitrated the photographic plate under controlled conditions."
Usually used in specialist, historical, or technical contexts.
Nitrated film earned its place in early photography because nitrate-based silver compounds made light-sensitive surfaces possible.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nitrated come from?
The word comes from nitrate, which was formed in the early 19th century from nitric acid and the suffix -ate. Nitrate ultimately draws on Latin nitrum, meaning native sodium carbonate or natron, with the chemical sense influenced by the Greek nitron. The adjective and verb form nitrated developed from this chemical vocabulary and became particularly prominent in descriptions of photographic materials treated with silver nitrate.
Related word forms
How nitrated is actually used
The adjective is mainly associated with photographic emulsions and historical photographic processes. It is also encountered in chemistry, where it describes a substance treated with a nitrate or nitrogen-containing compound. The verb form is less common in general use.
Easily confused with nitrated
Nitrated is the adjective or past-tense verb form; nitrate is the noun for a salt of nitric acid and the verb for treating something with a nitrate.