Sciencemadness Discussion Board

iS 99% KNO3 fine for most reactions?

Db33 - 4-4-2017 at 05:39

so today i got a pound of Gordons Stump Remover cuz it was only $8 and i knew it was 99% KNO3 and 1% Calcium Stearate. IS there a way to remove that or is that fine for most reactions?

Herr Haber - 4-4-2017 at 05:56

I have used 99% KNO3 with (SiO2) anticaking and without.
I havent noticed the slightest difference.

I guess it depends on your use.

Lambda-Eyde - 4-4-2017 at 06:15

Quote: Originally posted by Db33  
IS there a way to remove that or is that fine for most reactions?

Recrystallization. Calcium stearate is barely soluble in water.

Liamatpm - 4-4-2017 at 07:51

It should be fine, I've used that in the past and works well enough, as long as it's over 90% you should be fine.

Magpie - 4-4-2017 at 10:36

I have used stump remover KNO3 that had some kind of oily coating, possibly it was Ca stearate. This was the least satisfactory KNO3 that I have used. The pottery grade is much better. I would try to remove that stearate: perhaps by washing with an organic solvent. Or use recrystalization.

Db33 - 4-4-2017 at 11:56

The kind i have is just white prills that dont have a coating and seems really pure to me

Liamatpm - 5-4-2017 at 04:07

That should work as longs as its is property ground up. It need to be in a somewhat fine powder or better. (To get best results)

XeonTheMGPony - 5-4-2017 at 05:09

Sorry to borrow on your thread but seems a good injection point, I see no reason why HCL could not be used for making of nitric acid to end with the chloride salt. Or am I missing some thing obvious, I all ready factored int he water as the goal is Azeotropic HNO3

Tsjerk - 5-4-2017 at 06:01

Look up Nitrosyl Chloride

XeonTheMGPony - 5-4-2017 at 10:54

figured there was a "gotcha" some where in my reasoning, thanks.

JJay - 5-4-2017 at 10:58

Also, hydrochloric acid is volatile, or at least it is more volatile than sulfuric acid.

[Edited on 5-4-2017 by JJay]

Chlorine - 6-4-2017 at 09:14

99% Purity should be fine for most reactions, although if your experiment is very sensitive you can purify the KNO3 via recystilazation, Calcium stearate is extremely insoluable in cold water.