Original sentence: Because potassium nitrate readily precipitates, urine was a significant source, through various means, from the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern era through the 19th century.The name Chile saltpetre (American "Chile saltpeter") is applied to sodium nitrate, a different nitrogen compound that is also used in explosives and fertilizers
Edited sentence: Potassium nitrate readily precipitates from mixtures of salts, and decomposing urine was the main commercial source of the nitrate ion, through various means, from the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern era through the 19th century.The major problem of sodium nitrate in gunpowder is its tendency to go damp.The name Chile saltpetre (American "Chile saltpeter") is applied to sodium nitrate, a similar nitrogen compound that is also used in explosives and fertilizers