Crossword Genius

Chemical container returned with speed (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nitrate

'chemical' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'container returned with speed' is the wordplay.
'container' becomes 'tin' (tin is a kind of container).
'returned' is a reversal indicator.
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'speed' becomes 'rate' (the speed at which something happens).
'tin' backwards is 'nit'.
'nit'+'rate'='NITRATE'

(Other definitions for nitrate that I've seen before include "following 28 [SILVER]" , "salt" , "Tear tin up for fertiliser" , "Compound" , "Fertiliser chemical" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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