As sodium and potassium salts have similar solubilities in aqueous solution, consider a solvent that can distinguish between either cation (try crown ethers)Lucas_SG said:Basically, just remember, L S, B C L, S P A
All potassium,nitrate salts are soluble.. however, chlorides,carbonates and sulphates are an exception.For chlorides, all chlorides are soluble except lead chloride and silver chloride..all sulphates are soluble except barium sulphate,chloride sulphate and lead sulphate..for carbonates,sodium,potassium and ammonium carbonate is soluble while the rest are insoluble.. as as sodium and potassium are very reactive when reacted with water due to the reactive series of metals.
This makes no sense.Lucas_SG said:u can separate sodium and potassium with their solutions by titration, changing them into a oxide or hydroxide...
JGM_14 said:I want to separate sodium and potassium carbonate from the ashes of plants. My question is, Is sodium carbonate soluble in ethanol? I know that potassium carbonate is not so could i put the mixture into 200 proof ethanol and separate the two?
Cesium said:Ya both carbonates are present in ashes. Na2CO3 predominates in sea plants and K2CO3 in land plants IIRC. This is an old school preparation of potash and is outlined in scores of old textbooks. Use Google books to help you- you'll get more info there than anyone on this forum can give!
--------------------------------
The purpose of separating sodium and potassium carbonates is to obtain pure samples of each compound for further experimentation or industrial use. These compounds have different properties and uses, and separating them allows for more accurate and controlled testing.
One method is fractional crystallization, where the solubility differences between the two compounds are used to separate them. Another method is ion exchange chromatography, which uses a resin to selectively bind and separate the ions. Additionally, electrolysis can be used to separate the compounds based on their different melting points.
Accurately measuring the amount of sodium and potassium carbonates in a mixture is important because these compounds have different properties and uses. In industrial settings, precise amounts of each compound may be needed for a certain process or product. In scientific experiments, using the correct amounts is crucial for accurate results and conclusions.
One potential hazard is the corrosive nature of these compounds, which can cause skin and eye irritation. They may also react violently with other chemicals, leading to fire or explosion hazards. Proper safety measures, such as wearing protective gear and handling the compounds in a well-ventilated area, should be followed to minimize these risks.
Yes, there are alternative methods such as distillation, which utilizes the difference in boiling points between the two compounds. Another method is solvent extraction, where a solvent is used to selectively dissolve and separate one compound from the other. However, the most appropriate method will depend on the specific properties and quantities of the compounds being separated.