Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings
• What do you need

Collecting bat guano in caves is the main way to get potassium nitrate. But today you can get potassium nitrate in several more places - in the event that you need it for various chemical experiments. You just need to go to the pharmacy and buy a few ingredients. Read on to find out which ones.

Steps

1. 1 Buy the ingredients you want. You can make potassium nitrate using regular products sold at any pharmacy. You will need to read the contents of the bags you purchased to make sure they contain the ingredients you want. Here's what you need:
   • Several cold lotions (compresses) containing ammonium nitrate. Quantity - 40 grams.
   • Container of sodium-free salt, i.e. potassium chloride. Quantity - 37 grams.
   • If you don't have a kitchen scale (a small scale that measures small amounts of a substance), buy one. We will need them for measurements.
   • You will also need a coffee filter or cheesecloth.
2. 2 Take 100 ml of water. Measure out the exact amount, for example with a measuring glass.
3. 3 Dissolve 40 grams of ammonium nitrate in water. Pour it into a glass and stir gently. Stir for a few minutes until completely dissolved.
4. 4 Use cheesecloth or a coffee filter to filter out the water. Transfer the filtered liquid to another container.
5. 5 Add 37 grams of potassium chloride and heat the solution. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally until completely dissolved. Do not let the solution boil!
6. 6 Filter the solution by pouring it into a separate container suitable for freezer storage, such as a plastic or glass container.
7. 7 Chill the solution in the freezer. Nitric acid crystals will begin to form. Check the condition of the solution every few minutes. When a sufficient number of crystals are formed, then everything is ready.
8. 8 Drain the liquid. After the crystals have formed, you will be left with a liquid ammonium chloride substance. Drain it, leaving the crystals intact. Wait until they are completely dry before using them for subsequent experiments.

Tips

• You can substitute 40 grams of sodium hydroxide for potassium hydroxide.

Warnings

• Potassium hydroxide is a corrosive substance. Wear gloves when handling it.

What do you need

• Cold compress (lotion) containing ammonium nitrate (ammonium nitrate)
• Salt substitute containing potassium chloride
• Kitchen scales
• Filter for coffee or gauze
• Beaker
• Container
• Freezer container