Identify KNO3 and KH2PO4 at home












2












$begingroup$


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?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
    $endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    4 hours ago
















2












$begingroup$


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?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
    $endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    4 hours ago














2












2








2





$begingroup$


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?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.







$endgroup$




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






share|improve this question









New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 16 mins ago









andselisk

17k655115




17k655115






New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 6 hours ago









IchsanIchsan

141




141




New contributor




Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





New contributor





Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.








  • 2




    $begingroup$
    KNO3 is much better soluble in water.
    $endgroup$
    – Mithoron
    4 hours ago














  • 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










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4












$begingroup$

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.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 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



















2












$begingroup$

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.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$





















    0












    $begingroup$

    Touch medium samples of both salts with a glowing ember. No noticable effect would be observed on contact with $ce{KH2PO4}$. Contact with $ce{KNO3}$ shall produce noticeable flame.



    Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRqJ145dyM





    share









    $endgroup$













      Your Answer





      StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
      return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
      StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
      StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["$", "$"], ["\\(","\\)"]]);
      });
      });
      }, "mathjax-editing");

      StackExchange.ready(function() {
      var channelOptions = {
      tags: "".split(" "),
      id: "431"
      };
      initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);

      StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
      // Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
      if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
      StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
      createEditor();
      });
      }
      else {
      createEditor();
      }
      });

      function createEditor() {
      StackExchange.prepareEditor({
      heartbeatType: 'answer',
      autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
      convertImagesToLinks: false,
      noModals: true,
      showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
      reputationToPostImages: null,
      bindNavPrevention: true,
      postfix: "",
      imageUploader: {
      brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
      contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
      allowUrls: true
      },
      onDemand: true,
      discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
      ,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
      });


      }
      });






      Ichsan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










      draft saved

      draft discarded


















      StackExchange.ready(
      function () {
      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchemistry.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f110133%2fidentify-kno3-and-kh2po4-at-home%23new-answer', 'question_page');
      }
      );

      Post as a guest















      Required, but never shown

























      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      4












      $begingroup$

      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.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 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
















      4












      $begingroup$

      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.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 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














      4












      4








      4





      $begingroup$

      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.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$



      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.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      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














      • 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











      2












      $begingroup$

      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.






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$


















        2












        $begingroup$

        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.






        share|improve this answer











        $endgroup$
















          2












          2








          2





          $begingroup$

          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.






          share|improve this answer











          $endgroup$



          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.







          share|improve this answer














          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer








          edited 11 mins ago

























          answered 17 mins ago









          andseliskandselisk

          17k655115




          17k655115























              0












              $begingroup$

              Touch medium samples of both salts with a glowing ember. No noticable effect would be observed on contact with $ce{KH2PO4}$. Contact with $ce{KNO3}$ shall produce noticeable flame.



              Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRqJ145dyM





              share









              $endgroup$


















                0












                $begingroup$

                Touch medium samples of both salts with a glowing ember. No noticable effect would be observed on contact with $ce{KH2PO4}$. Contact with $ce{KNO3}$ shall produce noticeable flame.



                Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRqJ145dyM





                share









                $endgroup$
















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  Touch medium samples of both salts with a glowing ember. No noticable effect would be observed on contact with $ce{KH2PO4}$. Contact with $ce{KNO3}$ shall produce noticeable flame.



                  Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRqJ145dyM





                  share









                  $endgroup$



                  Touch medium samples of both salts with a glowing ember. No noticable effect would be observed on contact with $ce{KH2PO4}$. Contact with $ce{KNO3}$ shall produce noticeable flame.



                  Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJRqJ145dyM






                  share











                  share


                  share










                  answered 1 min ago









                  permeakrapermeakra

                  18.1k13681




                  18.1k13681






















                      Ichsan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.










                      draft saved

                      draft discarded


















                      Ichsan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.













                      Ichsan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.












                      Ichsan is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
















                      Thanks for contributing an answer to Chemistry Stack Exchange!


                      • Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!

                      But avoid



                      • Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.

                      • Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.


                      Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.


                      To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.




                      draft saved


                      draft discarded














                      StackExchange.ready(
                      function () {
                      StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchemistry.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f110133%2fidentify-kno3-and-kh2po4-at-home%23new-answer', 'question_page');
                      }
                      );

                      Post as a guest















                      Required, but never shown





















































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown

































                      Required, but never shown














                      Required, but never shown












                      Required, but never shown







                      Required, but never shown







                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Accessing regular linux commands in Huawei's Dopra Linux

                      Can't connect RFCOMM socket: Host is down

                      Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal Exception in Interrupt