Identify KNO3 and KH2PO4 at home












2












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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







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  • 2




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    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?






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.







$endgroup$








  • 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?






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.







$endgroup$




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






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









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Ichsan is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 31 mins ago









andselisk

17k655115




17k655115






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asked 6 hours ago









IchsanIchsan

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141




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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











$endgroup$





















    1












    $begingroup$

    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|improve this answer









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      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 26 mins ago

























          answered 32 mins ago









          andseliskandselisk

          17k655115




          17k655115























              1












              $begingroup$

              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|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                1












                $begingroup$

                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|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  1












                  1








                  1





                  $begingroup$

                  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|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  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|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 16 mins ago









                  permeakrapermeakra

                  18.1k13681




                  18.1k13681






















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