* Oxygen (O₂): Potassium nitrate is a strong oxidizer, meaning it readily releases oxygen when heated. This oxygen supports combustion and is why potassium nitrate is used in fireworks and gunpowder.
* Nitrogen (N₂): The nitrogen from the nitrate group is released as a gas.
* Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂): This reddish-brown gas is produced as a byproduct of the decomposition process, especially at higher temperatures.
The exact proportions of these gases vary depending on the conditions of the reaction.
It's important to note that potassium nitrate burning also produces solid potassium nitrite (KNO₂) as a residue.
