Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Make nitrites

kecskesajt - 15-12-2014 at 12:45

I was trying to find a way to produce KNO2 from KNO3 wich melted with lead metal.However not all the lead melted so I didnt get all the KNO3 turned KNO2.I also heated KNO3 to boiling and let it cool but when I dissolved it fizzed and gave a medium alkaline solution.Is there any other ways to produce KNO2?

Mesa - 15-12-2014 at 14:27

The reduction of KNO3 with metallic lead is quite ineffecient unless you spend some time designing/building apparatus for it. Just melting lead with a torch then adding KNO3 hasn't really been a viable option for anything other than 10-50g quantities in my experience, and is useful only for the academic experience.

Carbon/charcoal reduction is viable using a ball mill but can be pretty finnicky.

kecskesajt - 15-12-2014 at 21:24

Thanks.I do pyrotechnics too so I have charcoal (airfloat).

Magpie - 15-12-2014 at 22:23

Here's some experience in making nitrites:

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=52&...

kecskesajt - 16-12-2014 at 05:37

Thanks for the anwser but I read all theese.I want the easyest way to produce,the lead method may work but I afraid of molten metals.And the heat source isnt the best.