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?










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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?










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.







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  • 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






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edited 11 mins ago









andselisk

17k655115




17k655115






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asked 6 hours ago









IchsanIchsan

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






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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










2 Answers
2






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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.






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  • 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.






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    2 Answers
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    2 Answers
    2






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    active

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    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 6 mins ago

























        answered 13 mins ago









        andseliskandselisk

        17k655115




        17k655115






















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