Chemgineer
Hazard to Others
Posts: 216
Registered: 25-5-2021
Member Is Offline
|
|
Nitric acid from ammonium nitrate and sodium bisulfate
I normally produce nitric acid by dry distilling magnesium nitrate with sodium bisulfate and it works quite well to produce around 50% concentration.
I was experimenting with using some ammonium nitrate as I happen to have some of it, this time I used a 200g of it in 200ml of water and then added
300g of sodium bisulfate.
This worked but it foamed constantly and was a pain, even blocking the neck of the flask towards the end.
Would it be better to dry distil in the same way as I have done above?
|
|
|
andyloris
Harmless
Posts: 49
Registered: 22-9-2022
Location: France
Member Is Offline
Mood: Lazy
|
|
Don't forget that ammonium nitrate decomposes explosively at high temperatures !
I don't think a dry distillation would be a good idea.
Always trust your first idea, especially if you only have one.
|
|
|
Chemgineer
Hazard to Others
Posts: 216
Registered: 25-5-2021
Member Is Offline
|
|
I can't make my mind up on whether this would be safe not and have a respect for ammonium nitrate so for the time being have put this on hold.
|
|
|
Sir_Gawain
Hazard to Others
Posts: 420
Registered: 12-10-2022
Location: Due South of Due West
Member Is Offline
Mood: Like a pendulum
|
|
Even with the low temperature method (AN&sulfuric acid) the ammonium nitrate decomposes to some extent, diluting the acid. I've only been able to
achieve 85% nitric acid with ammonium nitrate, while the same sulfuric acid with sodium nitrate produced 99%.
“Alchemy is trying to turn things yellow; chemistry is trying to avoid things turning yellow.” -Tom deP.
|
|
|
![[*]](images/xpblue/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
