EXPERIMENT III

SYNTHESIS OF POTASSIUM NITRATE

March 17th 2015
A. Objectives
1. Study the synthesis of potassium nitrate salt from the reaction between sodium nitrate and
potassium chloride.
2. Study the separation process this salt from sodium chloride by product based on the
differences in solubility.
B. Theoretical Basic
Potassium Nitrate is a compound of potassium nitrate salts with molecular formula
KNO3. Potassium nitrate salts can be prepared by reacting potassium chloride (KCl) were
found in the mineral sylvite, with sodium nitrate NaNO 3. If a saturated solution of each of
these reactions are mixed with each other, it will form sodium chloride, NaCl and KNO 3 as a
solvent solution of NaCl in aquadest is very small, then the salt will undergo precipitation,
and through filtering KNO3 solution can be separated from NaCl. By cooling the filtrate
slowly, then KNO3 will undergo crystallization process, and to meet the needs generated
KNO3 crystallization (Aziz, 2007).
Potassium itself is a soft silver-white metal. The metal melts at 63.5 C. Potassium
remained unchanged in dry air, but quickly oxidized in moist air, it becomes covered with a
layer of blue. Metals that decompose aquadestt with powerful, releasing hydrogen and burned
with violet flame.
2K+(aq) + 2H2O(l) 2K+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) + H2(aq)
Potassium is usually stored in the solvent naphtha. Potassium salts containing
monovalent cations K +. These salts are usually soluble and form a colorless solution, except
when colored anion.
All nitrate dissolves in aquadest. Of mercury and bismuth nitrate yield after
treatment with alkaline salt aquadest, salt is soluble in dilute nitric acid.
(G.Svehla, 1990)
Nitric acid and its salts are oxo compounds of nitrogen. This acid is mainly made from
change of nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia. At room temperature, nitric acid is in the
form of a liquid phase and boils at 84.1oC. Pure acid can ionize :
2HNO3(aq) NO2+(aq) + NO3-(aq) + H2O(l)
Acid solution with a concentration of 0.1 M can be ionized almost perfectly (93%).
Ionization process is widely used in the nitration reaction in some organic compounds. To
accelerate this process, the acid mixed with sulfuric acid. Normal solution nitric acid (70 wt
%) was colorless and then gradually changed to yellow due to the photochemical yield of NO 2
:
2HNO3(aq) 2NO2(aq) + O2(g) + H2O(l)
The salts can be prepared by reacting a solution of saturated KCl solution with saturated
NaNO3 according to the equation:
KCl(aq) + NaNO3(aq) NaCl(aq) + KNO3(aq)

Both of the above reaction can be separated based on solubility properties that differ
significantly from both the salt at a given temperature conditions. The solubility of the salt
because of the effect of temperature is presented in figure 1.

Figure 1. Graph of temperatur and solubility of salt

(Team of lectureship inorganic chemistry, 2015)
The factors - factors that affect the solubility as follows:
- Temperature
The effect of temperature depends on the heat dissolution. If negative, the dissolution heat
solubility down to temperatures when heat is positive, the dissolution of the solubility rises
with increasing temperature.
- Type of solute and solvent
Substances - substances with a similar chemical structure can generally mix well with each
other, while the unusual hard to mix.
- Pressure
Pressure no longer affect the solubility of solids and liquids, but the effect on the solubility
of the gas.
-Function reagents
KCl and NaNO3 function serves as a compound to be reacted to obtain potassium nitrate.
A supersaturated solution is a solution menstabil system can be converted into a
saturated solution by adding a crystal "seeds" are small (usually crystalline solute) although a
foreign substance can also be successful. The crystal is a nucleus around which the excess
dissolved solutes can be crystallized
Colorless compounds and alkali ions rather not reactive. Simple salts such as LiCl,
KNO3, Ca2SO4 and Rb2CO3 usually very soluble in water. Solution of these compounds is a
typical electrolytic (Keenan, 1984).
To understand the ionic bond, presupposed a NaCl molecules in the vapor phase. At
very large distances between the ions formed in energetics are Na and Cl atoms. If the
particles approaching the changes into Na + and Cl with the release and binding energy as
shown in the equation above. In addition there is a large electrostatic forces that cause the two
ions closer to the equilibrium state is reached, ie the minimum point. In the distance between
the nuclei very near that role is repulsion between similar ions. Ionic crystals formed then

consists of a regular arrangement of positive ions and negative in the crystal lattice (Surdia,
1993).
C. Equipment and Material
Equipment :
1. Beaker 100 mL (2)
2. Evaporating dish (1)
3. Glass funnel (1)
4. Beaker 250 mL (1)
5. Measuring glass 25 mL (1)
6. Drops pippet
7. Burner methylated
8. Spatula
9. Thermometer
10. Analytical balance
11. Filter papper
12. Stirrer
Material :
1. Potassium chloride (powder)
2. Sodium nitrate (powder)
3. Aquadest
4. Filter paper
5. Icecube

D. Work Instruction
1) Synthesis of potassium nitrate salt
Aquadest 25 mL heated

KCl 3,75 gr in 7.5 mL hot

aquadest dissolved

NaNO3 4,25 gr in 7.5 mL hot

aquadest dissolved

Mixed (two solution above), evaporated in aquadest

the volume
10 mLto figure 1.
KNO fromheater
NaCl until
separated
by referring
3

The crystal filtered

2) Purification of potassium nitrate crystal

A little crystal dissolved with little of aquadest by
heated (2,5 mL)
The solution cooled, then the crystal filtered

Weigh the crystal and counted the percentage of product

resulted
E. Result of observation
1. Color and structure (solid, liquid, gas) KCl
2. Color and structure (solid, liquid, gas) NaNO3
3. Color and structure (solid, liquid, gas) KNO3
4. The reactions that occur in the experiment

a. KCl(s) + H2O(l)
KCl (aq)
b. NaNO3(s) + H2O(l)

NaNO3(aq)

: white (solid), colorless (aqueous)

: white (solid), colorless (aqueous)
: white (solid), colorless (aqueous)
:

c. KCl-(aq) + NaNO3(aq)
d. KNO3(aq)

KNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)

Low temperature

KNO3(s)

5. Weight of KNO3 crystals produced : 2.189 gr

6. Crystal color and structure of KNO3 : white and rombic crystal
7. The percentage of KNO3 yield
3,75

Mol of KCl
74,5
0,05 mol

Mol of NaNO3

4,25
85
0,05 mol

KCl(aq)
m 0,05 mol
r 0,05 mol
s 0

+ NaNO3(aq)
0,05mol
0,05 mol
0

KNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)
0
0
0,05 mol 0,05 mol
0,05 mol 0,05 mol

0,05
mol
x
Mr KNO
The mass of KNO3 theoretical
3
0,0501 x 101
5,0500 gram

Rendement

the mass of KNO 3 by experiment

the mass of KNO3 by theoretical

2,189
5,05

x 100%

x 100%

43,35
F. Discussion
Experiment of synthesis KNO3 to know the procedure of making KNO 3 salt based on
solubility. Principle of this experiment based on diverification of solubility. In this experiment
used crystallization and recrystallization methode. Crystalization is separate by crystals
formation. Recrystallization is purification of precipitate.
Based on manual work of inorganic chemistry practicum, practicant must do some
treatment. Like as heating, evaporating, stirring, cooling, and drying. Explanation for those
treatment are :
- Heating up to 10 ml done in order to obtain the volume of NaNO3 plus KCl.
- Evaporating function that can purify the substance.
- Stirring function that can be dissolved by the solvent reagent homogeneously.
- Cooling can be crystallized KNO3.
- Drying are to dry KNO3 crystals, in order to free from solvent.
1) Synthesis of potassium nitrate salt

At the experiment we use two salts there are potassium chloride and sodium nitrate to
get potassium nitrate. KCl and NaNO 3 mixed with same amount of molles. So we must
prepare KCl 3.75 gr and NaNO3 4.25 gr. In order to KCl and NaNO3 used up at balance
condition. Based on theory, we know KNO 3 0.05 mol produced at the reaction. So after
calculated the mass of KNO3 are 5.05 gr based on theory.
If KCl solution react with NaNO3 solution, so it can product KNO3 and NaCl. KCl and
NaNO3 in first time are powder (solid). Because of in powder form, the surface area more and
more big area. Big area can accelerate reaction. We also dillute both of salts with hot
aquadest, in order to KCl and NaNO3 can dillute perfectly. Hot aquadest good for dillute that
salts than aquadest without heated. This be related to temperature.
When practicant dillute NaNO3 with aquadest 80oC, it can dillute. But not for KCl, it
very dificult to dillute KCl. So practicant heat again the KCl. Suitable with characteristics of
chemistry, aquadest become vapour. Its make KCl become solid more. Add aquadest is
solution to handle the problem. So we repeat again to heated until all KCl powder can dillute.
By look in figure 1 (look theoritical basis) KCl has smaller solubility than NaNO 3. So we
need more high temperature to dillute KCl. The color of both solution is colorless.
The reaction potassium chloride with hot aquadest and reaction sodium nitrate with hot
aquadest can write like this :
KCl(s) + H2O(l)

KCl(aq)

NaNOreaction
NaNO
3(s) + H2O
(l)
3(aq)
Based on that reaction we know
produce
ions.
The powder
of KCl become KCl
solution, and the powder of NaNO3 become NaNO3 solution.
After become solution, both salts are mixed and heated again. Heating is to accelerate
reaction. Ions will be move very fast, so the collision produced maximally. Evaporated until
volume become 10 mL. Evaporating are to clean solution from other substance and losting
aquadest. Aquadest will be lost by fission become O 2(g) and H2(g). If evaporated until volume
10 mL, in order to potassium nitrate crystals easily formed.
Separation KNO3 and NaCl based on solubility. By look in figure 1 (look theoritical
basis) KNO3 has higher solubility than NaCl at temperature > 30 o C . If temperature than 30oC
all powder of KNO3 will dillute easily than the powder of NaCl. We get precipitate and
filtrate. The precipitate is NaCl, and the filtrate is KNO3. Look at this reaction :

KCl(aq) + NaNO3(aq) KNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)

KNO3 dillute because of it has more solubility than the solubilty of NaCl. So we can know the
phase of them. Potassium nitrate is solution, but sodium chloride is solid (crystals). Solution
of KNO3 is colorless.
KCl and NaNO3 has different shape crystals with the shape crystals of NaCl and KNO 3.
The shape of NaCl crystals is face center cube (fcc), it has white color. After look thats
different, practicant can separate them. Then used only the filtrate of potassium nitrate for
purification.
2) Purification of potassium nitrate crystal
Filtrate of KNO3 are heated. Function heating is losting other substance which exist in
KNO3 crystals. So practicant can get result of crystals more purify.

Some nitrate salts are higroscropis and easy dissolve in aquadestt at high temperature,
included too KNO3. But KNO3 difficult to dissolved at low temperature (cold), then it can
form crystals. So to get crystals of KNO 3 practicant must put KNO3 solution at cold place. We
prepare a washbasin and put beaker glass which contain KNO 3 solution in washbasin. Then
pour ice cube in washbin cover the beaker glass.
We know the filtrate of KNO3 can forming crystals by cooling. Because low
temperature can make KNO3 solution become small for solubility, so it will be precipitate.
Some minutes the filtrate will become crystals. The shape of crystal is rombique crystals and
the color is white. Crystals of KNO 3 keep on purified by cooling continuous. This do for get
crystals many more. Look at this reaction :
Low temperature

KNO3(aq)
KNO3(s)
After that crystals must dried, so we can save the crystals without contain aquadest.
Sunlight or oven can dried crystals.
Based on theory we know that the moles of KNO 3 is 0.05 moles. So the mass of KNO 3
is 5.05 gr. But practicant only get 2.189 gr of KNO 3 crystals. From data we can know how
much rendemen get, there were 43.35%. That mistaken can occur because :
a. Residue of KNO3 crystals left behind in filter paper.
b. Displacement KNO3 crystals exceedingly used many filter paper, so it can decrease the
mass of crystals.
c. Evaporating or cooling are not maximal.
G. Conclusion
1. Synthesis of potassium nitrate salt can occur from the reaction between sodium nitrate
and potassium chloride. The reaction are :

a) KCl(s) + H2O(l)
KCl(aq)

b) NaNO3(s) + H2O(l)

c) KCl(aq) + NaNO3(aq)
d) KNO3(aq)

NaNO3(aq)
KNO3(aq) + NaCl(s)

Low temperature

KNO3(s)

2. Separation process this salt (KNO 3) from sodium chloride by product based on the
differences in solubility. KNO3 has big solubility at temperature >30oC than solubilty
of NaCl. So we can separate both when KNO 3 at aqueous phase and NaCl at solid
phase.
3. This experiment use crystallization and recrystallization methode.
4. The crystals of KNO3 is rombique.
5. Rendement of KNO3 crystals is 43.35%.
H. Suggestion
1. Dont over and over while displacement KNO3 crystals.
2. The temperatur of aquadest for dillute KCl 100oC, so KCl can dillute perfectly.

I. Refference
Aziz, T. 2007. Penuntun Praktikum Kimia Anorganik Jurusan Kimia. Kendari: Universitas
Haluoleo.
Inorganic Chemistry Lecturer Team. 2015. Manual Work of Inorganic Chemistry Practicum.
Semarang : UNNES.
Keenan. 1984. Kimia Untuk Universitas. Erlangga : Jakarta.
Surdia , Mansdsjoertah. 1993 . Ikatan dan Struktur molekul . Bandung : ITB Press.
Svehla, G. 1990. Vogel Buku Teks Analisis Anorganik Kualitatif Makro dan Semimikro.
Bagian 1 dan 2 Edisi kelima. Jakarta: PT. Kalman Media Pustaka.