(Reupload) Make Potassium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrate at Home Using Calcium Nitrate

In this video we make Potassium Nitrate and Sodium Nitrate using the easily obtained Calcium Nitrate.

Potassium nitrates and sodium nitrates are sought after for their uses in... umm.. fertilizer.... as well as for making alternative aqua regia. I've previously shown how to make them from ammonium nitrate, but ammonium nitrate is getting harder and harder to find as stricter regulations are enacted. Fortunately it seems calcium nitrate is widely available as fertilizer and has much less restrictions. I could easily buy it online from various e-commerce vendors.

Calcium nitrate by itself is usable to make nitric acid directly, but potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate themselves are specifically desired, then it can be converted. To do so, Calcium nitrate is first identified by looking at its NPK value to determine the exact form and the molar nitrate equivalent is found. That quantity is then reacted with equivalent amount of alkali, like potassium hydroxide or sodium carbonate, and then filtered. The filtrate contains the corresponding alkali nitrate that can then be dried or crystalized.

For potassium nitrate specifically. Potassium chloride may be reacted with calcium nitrate and the solution heated until dissolved. Then filtered and allowed to cool and the potassium nitrate directly crystalizes out. This is filtered and retained. Although it is rather impure and needs to be recrystallized again for best purity.

Related videos:
Make nitric acid from calcium nitrate and sodium bisulfate:    • Lab Notes -  August 31st - Nitric Aci...  



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