Potassium Nitrate in Water: What Happens?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kyoma
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of potassium ions and nitrate ions when added to water, specifically whether they form potassium nitrate or remain as solvated ions in solution. The scope includes theoretical considerations of ionic interactions and solubility in aqueous solutions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the final mixture will contain potassium nitrate and water or just a mixture of potassium ions, nitrate ions, and water molecules.
  • Another participant states that in a dilute solution, only solvated ions are present, but in a concentrated solution, ions may pair up and form crystals.
  • It is noted that a solution cannot consist solely of nitrate ions and water, as counter ions like Na+ or H+ must also be present.
  • A participant describes a scenario where starting with a dilute solution of nitric acid and adding KOH results in K+ and NO3- ions along with water, emphasizing that this does not address the original question about a solution containing only an ion.
  • Further elaboration is provided on the reaction between KOH and nitric acid, discussing the formation of water and the potential acidity or alkalinity of the resulting solution based on the amounts of reactants.
  • One participant reflects on their early chemistry lessons, suggesting that mixing certain solutions may not lead to dramatic reactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of the solution when potassium and nitrate ions are added to water. There is no consensus on whether a solution can exist with only these ions or if counter ions are necessary.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various assumptions about the concentrations of solutions and the presence of counter ions, which may affect the outcomes discussed. The discussion does not resolve these assumptions or the implications of different concentrations.

Kyoma
Messages
95
Reaction score
0
If you add potassium ions into a solution of nitrate ions and water, what will happen? Will the final mixture contain potassium nitrate and water or a mixture of potassium, nitrate ions and water molecules? :l
 
Chemistry news on Phys.org
Just solvated ions in a dilute solution. If you make a very concentrad solution they begin to pair up and finally to form crystals.
 
There can't be just nitrate ions and water, there have to be some counter ions, Na+ or H+. Likewise you can't add just potassium ions.
 
Well, I could start with a dilute solution of nitric acid and add KOH and I'd end up with K+ and NO3- and water. Only.
 
Nemus said:
Well, I could start with a dilute solution of nitric acid and add KOH and I'd end up with K+ and NO3- and water. Only.

How is it related to the original question and epenguin comment? Every solution you mention contains ion and counterion, while the OP asked about solution containing ONLY an ion.
 
Nemus said:
Well, I could start with a dilute solution of nitric acid and add KOH and I'd end up with K+ and NO3- and water. Only.

You would end up with K+ but then you are starting off with K+ in the solution you add. You have transferred that many K+ from a bottle to a beaker maybe. Likewise you end up with NO3- and they are the same ones you started off with. The only happening thing when you do this mixture is that the OH- react with the H+ to form H2O. If you add more of the OH- (which = the K+ in the KOH) than there are of H+ (which = the NO3- in the nitric acid) the solution will be alkaline, if you add less it will be acid, there are a thousand calculations on this site about that and variations of it in which students sometimes find some difficulty due to various avoidable confusions. The reaction just mentioned generates some heat which if the solutions are dilute will not be dramatic but might be measurable with a thermometer, I don't know figures offhand.

You took me back to about my first chemistry lesson when after various reactions were finished we asked 'Sir, what happens if you mix that and that?'. 'Nothing' he replied, and then sensing our disappointment added 'It won't explode or anything.'
 

Similar threads

Side reactions while dissolving silver
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
I do not understand oxidizers and what they do
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
3K
Potassium alum: how to prevent recrystallization in water?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Can ammonium nitrate be safely used as a water pigment in dioramas?
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
Affordable way to remove potassium from off-grid water?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
What waste products are formed from sugar rocket fuel?
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
6K
Can you make pure water acidic by adding free protons to it?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
What is the mass of potassium nitrate which crystallizes?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
How volatile is urea in a water mixture?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Is Lead Iodide Precipitate Stable Over Time?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K