Identify KNO3 and KH2PO4 at home
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I am not expert in chemistry. I need to find a way to identify a $ce{KNO3}$ and $ce{KH2PO4}$ powder at home. I suspect the seller gave me the wrong powder. What is the easiest way to do it at home?
inorganic-chemistry home-experiment
New contributor
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$begingroup$
I am not expert in chemistry. I need to find a way to identify a $ce{KNO3}$ and $ce{KH2PO4}$ powder at home. I suspect the seller gave me the wrong powder. What is the easiest way to do it at home?
inorganic-chemistry home-experiment
New contributor
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2
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KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
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– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
I am not expert in chemistry. I need to find a way to identify a $ce{KNO3}$ and $ce{KH2PO4}$ powder at home. I suspect the seller gave me the wrong powder. What is the easiest way to do it at home?
inorganic-chemistry home-experiment
New contributor
$endgroup$
I am not expert in chemistry. I need to find a way to identify a $ce{KNO3}$ and $ce{KH2PO4}$ powder at home. I suspect the seller gave me the wrong powder. What is the easiest way to do it at home?
inorganic-chemistry home-experiment
inorganic-chemistry home-experiment
New contributor
New contributor
edited 9 mins ago
andselisk
17k655115
17k655115
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asked 6 hours ago
IchsanIchsan
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141
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2
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KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
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– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
2
$begingroup$
KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
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Well, given that one is a weak acid and the other is the salt of a strong base and a strong acid, the pH of a solution of the powder should tell you which it is. If it's $ce{KNO3}$ it should neutral, and if it's $ce{KH2PO4}$ it should be acidic. Just need some pH paper, which you could probably buy at a pool supply store.
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1
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This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
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– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In the absence of other chemicals you can utilize the fact that nitrates(V) are much stronger oxidizing agents than phosphates(V).
You can soak a piece of newspaper in a saturated solution of the salt, let it dry well in a ventilated place and try to ignite it.
If the salt was $ce{KNO3}$, it will burn vigorously and fast (that's why kids are often using paper soaked in sodium nitrate as primitive fuse for home-made firecrackers and rockets).
$ce{KH2PO4}$ doesn't promote combustion of paper, so it will burn normally or even slower.
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2 Answers
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$begingroup$
Well, given that one is a weak acid and the other is the salt of a strong base and a strong acid, the pH of a solution of the powder should tell you which it is. If it's $ce{KNO3}$ it should neutral, and if it's $ce{KH2PO4}$ it should be acidic. Just need some pH paper, which you could probably buy at a pool supply store.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Well, given that one is a weak acid and the other is the salt of a strong base and a strong acid, the pH of a solution of the powder should tell you which it is. If it's $ce{KNO3}$ it should neutral, and if it's $ce{KH2PO4}$ it should be acidic. Just need some pH paper, which you could probably buy at a pool supply store.
$endgroup$
1
$begingroup$
This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Well, given that one is a weak acid and the other is the salt of a strong base and a strong acid, the pH of a solution of the powder should tell you which it is. If it's $ce{KNO3}$ it should neutral, and if it's $ce{KH2PO4}$ it should be acidic. Just need some pH paper, which you could probably buy at a pool supply store.
$endgroup$
Well, given that one is a weak acid and the other is the salt of a strong base and a strong acid, the pH of a solution of the powder should tell you which it is. If it's $ce{KNO3}$ it should neutral, and if it's $ce{KH2PO4}$ it should be acidic. Just need some pH paper, which you could probably buy at a pool supply store.
answered 5 hours ago
ringoringo
19.9k557107
19.9k557107
1
$begingroup$
This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
1
$begingroup$
This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
$begingroup$
This could work, but KH2PO4 solution would have pH somewhere around 4.7 - water used at home might be as acidic as this, I guess.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In the absence of other chemicals you can utilize the fact that nitrates(V) are much stronger oxidizing agents than phosphates(V).
You can soak a piece of newspaper in a saturated solution of the salt, let it dry well in a ventilated place and try to ignite it.
If the salt was $ce{KNO3}$, it will burn vigorously and fast (that's why kids are often using paper soaked in sodium nitrate as primitive fuse for home-made firecrackers and rockets).
$ce{KH2PO4}$ doesn't promote combustion of paper, so it will burn normally or even slower.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In the absence of other chemicals you can utilize the fact that nitrates(V) are much stronger oxidizing agents than phosphates(V).
You can soak a piece of newspaper in a saturated solution of the salt, let it dry well in a ventilated place and try to ignite it.
If the salt was $ce{KNO3}$, it will burn vigorously and fast (that's why kids are often using paper soaked in sodium nitrate as primitive fuse for home-made firecrackers and rockets).
$ce{KH2PO4}$ doesn't promote combustion of paper, so it will burn normally or even slower.
$endgroup$
add a comment |
$begingroup$
In the absence of other chemicals you can utilize the fact that nitrates(V) are much stronger oxidizing agents than phosphates(V).
You can soak a piece of newspaper in a saturated solution of the salt, let it dry well in a ventilated place and try to ignite it.
If the salt was $ce{KNO3}$, it will burn vigorously and fast (that's why kids are often using paper soaked in sodium nitrate as primitive fuse for home-made firecrackers and rockets).
$ce{KH2PO4}$ doesn't promote combustion of paper, so it will burn normally or even slower.
$endgroup$
In the absence of other chemicals you can utilize the fact that nitrates(V) are much stronger oxidizing agents than phosphates(V).
You can soak a piece of newspaper in a saturated solution of the salt, let it dry well in a ventilated place and try to ignite it.
If the salt was $ce{KNO3}$, it will burn vigorously and fast (that's why kids are often using paper soaked in sodium nitrate as primitive fuse for home-made firecrackers and rockets).
$ce{KH2PO4}$ doesn't promote combustion of paper, so it will burn normally or even slower.
edited 5 mins ago
answered 11 mins ago
andseliskandselisk
17k655115
17k655115
add a comment |
add a comment |
Ichsan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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$begingroup$
KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
$endgroup$
– Mithoron
4 hours ago