Potassium nitrate, interactions

A pyrotechnic mixture of aluminium powder with potassium perchlorate, barium nitrate, potassium nitrate and water exploded after 24 h storage under water. Tests revealed the exothermic interaction of finely divided aluminium with nitrate and water to produce ammonia and aluminium hydroxide. Under the conditions prevailing in the stored mixture, the reaction would be expected to accelerate, finally involving the perchlorate as oxidant and causing ignition of the mixture. 

Mixtures of potassium nitrate with antimony trisulfide [1], barium sulfide, calcium sulfide, germanium monosulfide or titanium disulfide all explode on heating [2]. The mixture with arsenic disulfide is detonable, and addition of sulfur gives a pyrotechnic composition [2], Mixtures with molybdenum disulfide are also detonable [3], Interaction with sulfides in molten mixtures is violent [4],... 

Potassium Chromate, KjCrOj, is usually prepared fi-om the dichromate vide infra) by neutralisation of the excess of CrOa above that necessary to form the normal salt, e.g. by potassium carbonate in aqueous solution by fusion of the dichromate with potassium nitrate or potassium carbonate, and extraction with water by interaction of potassium dichromate with ammonium chloride or sodium hydrogen phosphate. ... 

Buffers can be used to control pH, provided it is determined that the buffer components do not interact, e.g., with the metal ion. However, buffers often absorb in the UV. In any event, a blank consisting of background electrolyte plus buffer should be used in the reference cell. Sodium or potassium nitrate usually can t be used as background electrolyte, because of the absorption band of nitrate centered at 300 nm. 

Without going into more chemistry than is needed, the interaction of basic explosive ingredients can be illustrated with two of the chemicals found in black gunpowder. The oxidizing chemical in Idack powder is potassium nitrate (KNO3) and one of the fuels is carbon (C). In the reaction process, the components of the oxidiaer are separated and recombined with the carbon. The chemical equation for this process is as follows ... 

FIG. 1. Enthalpies of mixing, AH, and enthalpy interaction parameters, AHM/N1N2, in liquid potassium nitrate-lithium nitrate mixtures at 3 5 C. (From Kleppa and Hersh ). 

The ionic strength dependence of the protolysis constant of water in potassium nitrate media is illustrated in Figure 5.27. The solid line on the figure is derived from the use of Eq. (5.17) with log = -13.994 0.014. From use of the equation, the following ion interaction parameters are derived ... 

Figure 11.35 Dependence of logVi of MnOH on ionic strength in potassium nitrate media. The solid line is obtained using the derived interaction coefficients and stability constant at zero ionic strength.

Since many ion exchange columns exhibit mixed-mode interactions with analytes, factor analysis has been found to be useful in optimization.84 A 3-year, comprehensive review of inter-laboratory errors in determinations of the anions chloride, nitrate, and sulfate and the cations sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium suggested that multipoint calibration is essential and nonlinear calibration desirable.102 The need for nonlinear calibration was confirmed by an extended quality assurance study of chloride, sulfate, and nitrate in rainwater.103... 

Evaporation by heating a filtrate from precipitation of potassium cobaltinitrite caused it to turn purple and explode violently [1]. This was attributed to interaction of nitrite, nitrate, acetic acid and residual cobalt with formation of fulminic or methylnitrolic acids or their cobalt salts, all of which are explosive [2], Mixtures containing nitrates, nitrites and organic materials are potentially dangerous, especially in presence of acidic materials and heavy metals. A later publication confirms the suggestion of formation of nitro- or nitrito-cobaltate(III) [3],... 

Mercuric thiocyanate, which is formed as a white precipitate when mercuric nitrate and potassium thiocyanate solutions are mixed, is soluble in excess of either solution. When dried, this salt is inflammable, forming a voluminous ash known as Pharaoh s serpents. By the interaction of a mercuric salt with ammonium thiocyanate and thio-carbamide in acetic acid solution in the presence of an oxidising agent, or by the action of hydrogen sulphide on mercuric thiocyanate, the phototropic compound HS.Hg.CNS is obtained.6... 

---