6 replies to this topic

[Arthur Brown]

OK I've just come by a bag of about 5 kilos of a white powder of pyro use. I think it may be one of KNO3 or KClO3 judging by where it came from.

Without waiting for the garden to grow or die(!) is there a diy method of checking?

[Richard H]

A basic and simple test would be to mix a few grams with some icing sugar in equal proportions. A vigorous combustion and a strong lilac flame would be indicative of potassium chlorate.

[Potassium chlorate]

OK I've just come by a bag of about 5 kilos of a white powder of pyro use. I think it may be one of KNO3 or KClO3 judging by where it came from.

Without waiting for the garden to grow or die(!) is there a diy method of checking?

How does one just "come by" pyro material?

If you have a sensitive nose, you can feel if it's KClO3. It has a specific smell. You can also mix a small amount with sugar or sulphur and hit it with a hammer. If it explodes, it is KClO3. And then I mean a small amount. 0.1 gram or so.

Edited by Pyroswede, 22 October 2008 - 07:03 PM.

[Arthur Brown]

It was unlabelled in a job lot of stuff I bought off a retiring pyro!

PLEA TO ALL

Label your stuff! Someone has to dispose of things.

[paul]

KClO3´s solubility in water (20°C) is just about 73g/L while you can dissolve at least 316g of KNO3 in the same amount of water.
For KClO4 its just about 18g/L.

Btw its a good test to do. You don´t waste anything. Just evaporate the water and you´ve recovered your sweet white powder.

That should make for a relatively good analysis of what you got there. If it is one of them....

Edited by paul, 22 October 2008 - 09:22 PM.

[wjames]

ah, a topic i had previously thought of

"disposing of unwanted chemicals and compositions"


I like pauls suggestion.

[Alexander]

Dissolving in hot water and allowing to cool slowly will produce crystals that would be a good indicator of the salt.  Long needle shaped crystals are a dead givaway for potassium nitrate.

A few drops of concentrated sulphuric acid added to a tiny crystal or two in a test tube - if you get a crackling sound and a (toxic!) green gas that almost has to be a chlorate.  A small amount of the fine powder mixing with icing sugar will inflame on contact with a drop of sulphuric acid if it is chlorate.  If there is no green gas then adding a pinch of iron filings to the mixture may produce (toxic!) brown fumes, that would be proof positive for nitrate.  Dissolving a tiny amount of the salt in some alcohol and setting it on fire would be a good way to check for salts of metals other than potassium.

Edited by Alexander, 24 October 2008 - 01:19 PM.