Crossword Genius

Small step led three oddly to discover compound (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

saltpetre

'compound' is the definition.
(saltpetre is a kind of compound)

'small step led three oddly' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters.
'small'+'step'+'led'+'three'='smallstepledthree'
The alternate letters of 'smallstepledthree' are 'SALTPETRE'.

'to discover' is the link.

(Other definitions for saltpetre that I've seen before include "Nitre" , "It's used as a fertilizer and explosive" , "Compound" , "Constituent of gunpowder" , "Potassium nitrate" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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