7 replies to this topic

[Aussie Pyro King]

I was just wondering has anyone tried to convert calcium nitrate to potassium nitrate useing potassium sulfate? This site describes it but as far as i can see it leaves out the proper proportions.

http://www.geocities.../kno3/kno3.html

Any help would be appreciated.

[paul]

It?s far too labourous.....

For the proper proportions use this:

Ca(NO3)2 + K2SO4 --------> 2 KNO3 + CaSO4

But, as said before its too expensive and too labourous.

This works great because both, Calciumsulfate and K2SO4 are very good suluble in water. You have to heat it to get the reaction completed. CaSO4 is not soluble in water at all. So after the reaction you can just filter it through a very fine filter.

Edited by paul, 23 June 2004 - 01:46 PM.

[Phoenix]

Once you've worked out the correct weights, the best way to to proceed would probably be to add most of the potassium sulphate solution to the calcium nitrate solution, the add the remainder (and possibly a little more) in small amounts until you stop getting a precipitate of calcium sulphate.

Of course, potassium carbonate would work just as well. Potassium chloride would be trickier, as the calcium chloride would have to be removed by fractional crystallisation, rather than just be filtered out.

[BigG]

And of course there is the question of why would you life to make potassium nitrate when it is so widely available and easy to get?

[Arthur Brown]

If you must try to synthesise something please go for a rare material, The post on magnalium was a true GEM.

Making a ton of mess in the kitchen for some low yield preparation of something you can buy by the bag hardly justifies the trouble.

[Stuart]

I agree. Nothing quite like a Potassium Nitrate synthesis thread to degrade a forum... really are one of the most boring topics you can get

[Aussie Pyro King]

Yeah well done guys I hope you feel proud of yourselves for discouraging someone who was only tring to ask a question.

[Demented Ferret]

Don't worry dude, this community has a trend for doing that.