18 replies to this topic

[RFD]

I have been reading some old posts on making barium nitrate with dilute nitric acid and barium carbonate.
Posts suggested dissolving barium carb in the dilute acid until no more crystals will disolve then filter and evaporate solution leaving pure barium nitrate behind.
Quistion is what dilution should the acid be (i have a litre of 70% nitric) and as i will have to get more barium carb how much will the dilution absorb to neutralize the acid.
The method sounds simple but ime thinking sounds simpler than it actualy is,if the the chemists could advise it would be much appreciated as i would like some better greens this year

[Arthur Brown]

10 - 20% would be a LOT safer. 70% is dangerous will eat clothes or skin or eyes, it will also fume badly.

take 700ml of water and very slowly, add 200ml of the acid with stirring, then make up to a litre. Keep the product cool, it will heat due to the heat of dilution it will boil unless you are careful. It could easily melt its way out of a plastic beaker.

ALWAYS ADD ACID meaning when diluting an acid always add the acid to the water, with stirring. If you do it the wrong way round it may well spit out boiling acid which you do NOT want.

Edited by Arthur Brown, 24 February 2009 - 06:58 PM.

[Bonny]

I do it almost the same starting with 70%conc. and diluting to ~25%. The amount of Barium carbonate needed would vary with the concentration you are using. I think some calculations are in the old thread.

[RFD]

HI Bonny,have got your calculations for 25% dilution from your old post,was this a successful dilution and any idea what yeald of barium nitrate you managed to squeeze out.

[RFD]

PM sent Arthur,(i hope).

[Potassium chlorate]

I cry blood when I hear that you dilute 70% HNO3 for making barium nitrate. Nitric acid is hard to get in my country.

[seymour]

I cry blood when I hear that you dilute 70% HNO3 for making barium nitrate. Nitric acid is hard to get in my country.

At the risk of bleeding you dry, I bought 20 litres of 70% for $32!

Posts suggested dissolving barium carb in the dilute acid until no more crystals will disolve then filter and evaporate solution leaving pure barium nitrate behind.

In my experience (using most of the 20L above mentioned) you will need to recrystalise the Barium nitrate. I'm not sure where the contaminants come from, the acid or the carbonate, but I have found them to be there.

You may have more pure reactants than I do. Only experimentation will tell!

[knackers]

i also nitrate my barium carb and strontium carb, and use 70% nitric acid, but i don't dilute it, i slowly over about 1/2 hour add about 1 ltr to 1LB of either salt, it is a very violent reaction and PPE is a must, i leave it for a few days then evapourate with heat " in the open air " then add water and wash then recrystalise, my carbonates turn in to a very crystaly nitrate and give me beautifull reds and greens

HN03 is also abundant here, thank heavens , 30 kg cost about $70

[Potassium chlorate]

At the risk of bleeding you dry, I bought 20 litres of 70% for $32!

I can buy it for about the same price in some other European countries. I just think it's a waste of nitric. It must be easier to buy the barium nitrate. The carbonate is useful as well, in other formulas.

[seymour]

Indeed it is. Especially in glitters.

With Barium nitrate being a poison and an oxidiser, shipping it is not at all easy. Nor is it cheap or easily available (in NZ) in the first place.

I have 20kg + of the carb which cost less than a similar sized sack of flour. With nitric also being so cheap (for me) making it is a very attractive proposition!

However in Europe where it is available, you are right, things will shift towards buying the nitrate.

[Bonny]

HI Bonny,have got your calculations for 25% dilution from your old post,was this a successful dilution and any idea what yeald of barium nitrate you managed to squeeze out.

I've successfully performed the reaction a few times now, making both strontium nitrate and barium nitrate (not at the same time of course ). I never actually weighed the finished product, but it was less than calculated I assume due to impurities in the carbonate and from the filtering and recystallization.

Barium nitrate is a PITA to dissolve and filter though as the solubility is so low a lot of water is needed. I usually end up with a layer of extra carbonate (and probably some barium sulfate) in the bottom of my container. I simply add water a few times to dissolve as much remaining nitrate and then filter and evaporate (boil off ) the water.

I cry blood when I hear that you dilute 70% HNO3 for making barium nitrate. Nitric acid is hard to get in my country.

But in some places nitrates are very hard to get, and diluted acid is safer to work with than the more concentrated stuff.

[Potassium chlorate]

But in some places nitrates are very hard to get, and diluted acid is safer to work with than the more concentrated stuff.

Laws rarely make sense. At least until a couple of years ago, all firearms here requested a license - except cannons...

[defective]

I have been reading some old posts on making barium nitrate with dilute nitric acid and barium carbonate.
Posts suggested dissolving barium carb in the dilute acid until no more crystals will disolve then filter and evaporate solution leaving pure barium nitrate behind.
Quistion is what dilution should the acid be (i have a litre of 70% nitric) and as i will have to get more barium carb how much will the dilution absorb to neutralize the acid.
The method sounds simple but ime thinking sounds simpler than it actualy is,if the the chemists could advise it would be much appreciated as i would like some better greens this year

i have a question for you.

where did you get your nitric acid and can you get more?

[pyrotrev]

Dilute-ish nitric acid (hence not suitable for making naughty things ) is suprisingly available int' UK, used in hydroponics - just do a search for "pH down".

Edited by pyrotrev, 06 March 2009 - 01:39 PM.

[knackers]

i have a question for you.

where did you get your nitric acid and can you get more?

do you have small industrial chemical companys that sell their own brand of cleaners, " ie :- hand wash, floor and laundry detergents, concrete cleaning chemicals, "you will be suppriesed as to what they sell, all types of acids, including HNO3