Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Will Potassium Nitrate and Vinegar react?

Diablo - 28-1-2016 at 04:58

I want to quickly dissolve some iron with what I have on hand. I don't believe these will react with each other so I should be able to use the oxidizer/acid combo. Once it's dissolved I'll precipitate it and wash it before dissolving in clean acid. Should I filter the iron hydroxide or wait for it to settle and decant it?

blogfast25 - 28-1-2016 at 07:33

Quote: Originally posted by Diablo  
I want to quickly dissolve some iron with what I have on hand. I don't believe these will react with each other so I should be able to use the oxidizer/acid combo. Once it's dissolved I'll precipitate it and wash it before dissolving in clean acid. Should I filter the iron hydroxide or wait for it to settle and decant it?


No reason to believe the two will react but:

NO3<sup>-</sup> + 4 H<sup>+</sup> + 3 e<sup>-</sup> === > NO + 2 H2O

... suggests strongly acidic conditions are needed for aqueous nitrates to show their oxidation powers and vinegar (4 - 5 % acetic acid in water) is a weak acid, so the effect may not be very strong.

Settle and decant is probably easiest, as Fe(OH)3 has a tendency to peptise:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peptization


[Edited on 28-1-2016 by blogfast25]