Potassium Nitrite - Reactions

Reactions

The mixing of cyanamide and KNO2 produces changes from white solids to yellow liquid and then to orange solid, forming cyanogen and ammonia gases. No external energy is used and the reactions are carried out with a small amount of O2.

Potassium nitrite forms potassium nitrate when heated in the presence of oxygen from 550° to 790°. The rate of reaction increases with temperature, but the extent of reaction decreases. At 550° and 600° the reaction is continuous and eventually goes to completion. From 650° to 750°, as the case of decomposition of potassium nitrate is, the system attains equilibrium. At 790°, a rapid decrease in volume is first observed, followed by a period of 15 minutes during which no volume changes occur. This is then followed by an increase in volume due primarily to the evolution of nitrogen, which is attributed to the decomposition of potassium nitrite.

Potassium nitrite reacts at an extremely slow rate with a liquid ammonia solution of potassium amide at room temperatures, and in the presence of ferric oxide or cobaltic oxide, to form nitrogen and potassium hydroxide.

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