Crossword Genius

Chemical container returned about finished (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

nitre

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'chemical' is the definition.
(I know that nitre is a type of nitrate)

'container returned about finished' is the wordplay.
'container' becomes 'tin' (tin is a kind of container).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'about finished' becomes 're' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'tin' reversed gives 'nit'.
'nit'+'re'='NITRE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for nitre that I've seen before include "fertiliser" , "explosive producer?" , "constituent of gunpowder" , "Gunpowder ingredient" , "Chemical" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.
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