Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'nitrate'

English Word: nitrate

Key Russian Translations:

• нитра́т [nʲɪˈtrɑt] - [Formal, Singular, Used in scientific and chemical contexts]
• нитра́ты [nʲɪˈtrɑtɨ] - [Formal, Plural, Used when referring to multiple compounds or ions]

Frequency: Medium (Common in scientific, agricultural, and environmental discussions, but not in everyday casual conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires basic knowledge of chemistry and Russian noun declensions, making it challenging for beginners)

Pronunciation (Russian):

нитра́т: [nʲɪˈtrɑt]

Note on нитра́т: The stress falls on the last syllable; the 'т' is pronounced as a hard 't' sound. Palatalization of 'н' may vary by speaker.

нитра́ты: [nʲɪˈtrɑtɨ]

Note on нитра́ты: Similar to 'нитра́т', but with a plural ending; the 'ы' sound is a neutral vowel, often softened in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

The chemical compound or ion derived from nitric acid

Translation(s) & Context:

• нитра́т - Used in formal scientific writing or discussions about chemistry, fertilizers, or environmental pollution.
• нитра́ты - Applied in contexts involving multiple instances, such as in agriculture or water quality reports.

Usage Examples:

• В почве часто накапливаются нитра́ты из-за чрезмерного использования удобрений.

  In the soil, nitrates often accumulate due to excessive use of fertilizers.

• Химики изучают, как нитра́т влияет на реакцию окисления.

  Chemists study how nitrate affects the oxidation reaction.

• Для здоровья важно контролировать уровни нитра́тов в питьевой воде.

  It's important for health to monitor nitrate levels in drinking water.

• В сельском хозяйстве нитра́ты используются для повышения урожайности.

  In agriculture, nitrates are used to increase crop yields.

• Избыток нитра́тов в реках может привести к эвтрофикации.

  An excess of nitrates in rivers can lead to eutrophication.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

Both 'нитра́т' and 'нитра́ты' are masculine nouns in Russian, following the standard third declension pattern for inanimate nouns. They exhibit regular declensions based on case and number, which is typical for loanwords from scientific terminology. Below is a declension table for 'нитра́т' (singular) and 'нитра́ты' (plural):

Note: These forms are regular and do not have irregularities, making them straightforward for learners once basic declension rules are understood.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • азотнокислый (azotnokislyy) - Often used interchangeably in chemical contexts, but more specific to acidic forms.
  • нитр (nitr) - A less common variant, typically in older texts or specific subfields.
• Antonyms:
  • None directly applicable, as 'nitrate' is a specific chemical term without a clear opposite. In broader contexts, terms like 'сульфат' (sulfat) might contrast in chemical discussions.

Related Phrases:

• Азотные удобрения с нитра́тами - Nitrogen fertilizers with nitrates; Used in agriculture to describe common soil enhancers.
• Нитра́ты в воде - Nitrates in water; Refers to environmental contamination issues.
• Снижение уровня нитра́тов - Reduction of nitrate levels; Often discussed in health and ecology contexts.

Usage Notes:

In Russian, 'нитра́т' directly corresponds to the English 'nitrate' as a chemical term, but always consider the context: use the singular for a general or specific instance and plural for collections. It's primarily formal and technical, so avoid in casual speech. When choosing between translations, 'нитра́т' is preferred in scientific writing, while 'нитра́ты' fits discussions of environmental impacts. Grammatically, ensure proper declension based on sentence structure, as Russian requires case agreement.

Common Errors:

• English learners often confuse 'нитра́т' with 'нитрат' (without the stress mark), leading to mispronunciation. Incorrect: 'нитрат' [wrong stress]. Correct: 'нитра́т' [nʲɪˈtrɑt] – Always emphasize the final syllable to avoid altering the word's meaning.

• Another error is using the plural form 'нитра́ты' when a singular is needed, e.g., saying 'нитра́ты в реактиве' instead of 'нитра́т в реактиве' for 'nitrate in the reagent'. This can make the sentence sound unnatural; remember to match number with the English context.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, 'нитра́ты' often appears in discussions about environmental policy, such as water pollution from agricultural runoff, which has been a significant issue since the Soviet era. This reflects broader cultural concerns about industrialization's impact on health and nature, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices in modern Russian society.

Related Concepts:

• азот (azot) - Nitrogen
• кислота (kislota) - Acid
• удобрения (udobreniya) - Fertilizers
• эвтрофикация (evtrofikatsiya) - Eutrophication