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So, you have a pile of gunpowder and you want to separate it. Right?

Here's are some clues:

Saltpeter (potassium nitrate) is soluble in water. Sulfur and carbon are not.

Furthermore, sulfur is soluble in acetone but carbon is not. This assumes that you have pure carbon and not charcoal powder. Depending on the quality of the charcoal powder, it could be more or less soluble in different substances. But let's just take your teacher at his word: Carbon is carbon.

If there is enough differential in particle size you could sift the mixture through a screen but that doesn't guarantee you'll get ALL the carbon, sulfur or saltpeter out of the mix. If the particles are all the same size that won't work at all.

(OR)

here is a better phrased answer:

Answer: Gunpowder is a mixture of sulphur, charcoal and potassium nitrate (nitre). When water is added to the mixture potassium nitrate dissolves. The mixture is then filtered. The filtrate is potassium nitrate solution while the residue is a mixture of sulphur and charcoal. The filtrate is evaporated on a sand bath to obtain nitre back. When carbon disulphide is added to the residue, sulphur dissolves. When this mixture is filtered the filtrate is sulphur solution while the residue is charcoal. Leaving it open evaporates the sulphur solution. Carbon disulphide evaporates and sulphur crystals are left behind.

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How do you separate a mixture of limestone and sawdust and wood chips and potassium nitrate?

One way is to use a process called sieving to separate the larger wood chips from the smaller particles of limestone, sawdust, and potassium nitrate. The sawdust and wood chips can be separated by flotation since sawdust floats while wood chips sink in water. Finally, the potassium nitrate can be dissolved in water and then filtered to separate it from the limestone.


Word equation for Iron nitrate and potassium thiocyanate?

Iron (III) thiocyanate The nitrate ions will separate and form potassium nitrate as well. BE: Fe(NO3)3(aq) + 3K(SCN) -> Fe(SCN)3 + 3K(NO3)


A dilute aqueous potassium nitrate solution is best classified as a?

A dilute aqueous solution of potassium nitrate would be classified as an electrolyte due to the presence of potassium ions (K+) and nitrate ions (NO3-) that can conduct electricity when dissolved in water.


Equal volumes of 0.120molL potassium nitrate and 0.160molL ironiiinitrate are mixed together What is the concentration of nitrate ions in the mixture?

To find the concentration of nitrate ions in the mixture, we first calculate the moles of nitrate ions from each salt using the formula moles = concentration x volume. For potassium nitrate: 0.120 mol/L x volume = moles of nitrate ions. For iron (II) nitrate: 0.160 mol/L x volume = moles of nitrate ions. Add the moles of nitrate ions from both salts to get the total moles of nitrate ions in the mixture. Finally, divide the total moles of nitrate ions by the total volume of the mixture to get the concentration of nitrate ions in the mixture.


What happens when potassium chromate is treated with barium nitrate?

When potassium chromate is treated with barium nitrate, a double displacement reaction occurs. Barium chromate and potassium nitrate are formed as products. A yellow precipitate of barium chromate is observed in the reaction mixture.

Related Questions

How do you separate a mixture of iodine and lead(II) nitrate?

To separate a mixture of iodine and lead(II) nitrate, you can first dissolve the mixture in water to form a solution. Then, you can use techniques such as filtration or precipitation to separate the components. Lead(II) nitrate will precipitate out as a solid, while iodine remains in solution. You can then filter the solid lead(II) nitrate from the solution to isolate the two components.


Is gun powder a pure substance?

Gunpowder is not a pure substance. It is a mixture composed of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in specific proportions. Each of these individual components maintains its chemical identity in the mixture.


How do you separate a mixture of oleic acid and solid potassium nitrate and powdered charcoal?

Potassium nitrate is soluble in water, the solution is filtered and evaporated.Oleic acid is soluble in ethanol and separated by filtration and evaporation of the alcohol.


What substance was traditionally made with a mixture of sulfur charcoal and potassium nitrate?

Gunpowder was traditionally made with a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate.


What are the components of gun powder?

Gunpowder typically consists of three main components: 75% nitrate (potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate), 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur. These ingredients are mixed together in specific ratios to create a combustible mixture that propels a projectile from a firearm.


What product will you get if you add water in potassium nitrate?

Since all nitrates are soluble in water, you would get a mixture of Potassium ions and Nitrate ions floating around in water.


How do you separate lead iodide precipitate and potassium nitrate solution?

You can separate lead iodide precipitate and potassium nitrate solution by filtration. Pour the mixture through a filter paper in a funnel to trap the solid lead iodide, allowing the clear potassium nitrate solution to pass through. The lead iodide will be left on the filter paper, which can then be washed with water to remove any remaining potassium nitrate before drying the solid lead iodide.


How do you separate a mixture of limestone and sawdust and wood chips and potassium nitrate?

One way is to use a process called sieving to separate the larger wood chips from the smaller particles of limestone, sawdust, and potassium nitrate. The sawdust and wood chips can be separated by flotation since sawdust floats while wood chips sink in water. Finally, the potassium nitrate can be dissolved in water and then filtered to separate it from the limestone.


Can you change potassium nitrate into sodium nitrate?

No, it is not possible to directly change potassium nitrate into sodium nitrate. These are two different compounds with different chemical compositions and properties. To obtain sodium nitrate from potassium nitrate, you would need to first separate the potassium and then introduce sodium in a separate chemical reaction.


What salitre compound mixture element?

Saltpeter is a compound consisting of potassium nitrate, which is a mixture of potassium, nitrogen, and oxygen elements.


What bond is break in order to form potassium nitrate solution?

In order to form a potassium nitrate solution, the ionic bond between potassium ions and nitrate ions in the solid potassium nitrate compound needs to be broken. This allows the potassium and nitrate ions to separate and become surrounded by water molecules, resulting in the formation of a potassium nitrate solution.


Is gun pouder a mixture?

Yes, gunpowder is a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur. These three components are combined in specific proportions to create the explosive powder used in firearms.