This removes all the calcium as insoluble calcium carbonate leaving mostly Reaction in much the same way that we have previously produced lye: Present, potassium nitrate is the one we need. Leaving behind as much as possible the underlying soil. So the beginning of primitive saltpeter production is to collect this white crust Last bit of moisture evaporated, they were deposited as a white crust on the Soluble parts, in this case the nitrates, made it to the top of the soil and when the While the original animal waste may have had a wide variety of soluble materials,Īs the water wicked up through the soil and evaporated, the less soluble partsįell out of solution as it became more and more concentrated. Manurial soils are mostly mixed nitrates. The resulting product is purified potassium carbonate. Mostly potassium carbonate and so when we purify it by recrystalization, The chief difference being the starting material. The process for making saltpeter is very similar to that for making potash, Water will dissolve more than nine times its own weight of sodium nitrate. Nitrate in boiling water are 952, 376, and 247 g / 100 mL. The solubilities of sodium, calcium, and potassium On the other minerals present in the soil. Of nitrate salts: sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and calcium nitrate, depending Bacteria in the soil oxidize these nitrogen compounds to a family Organic material which contains nitrogen: chiefly proteins and their decomposition The important feature of this soil is that it should contain Surface of such soil or in certain caves there will be a white crust on the surface soil that has formed from human or animal manure. It is my belief that it is engendered in these soils from an airy moisture that isĭrunk in and absorbed by the earthy dryness.īiringuccio goes on to desrcibe a process for extracting saltpeter from this Or from that loosened soil that is found in tombs or uninhabited caves where the rain cannot enter. With fire and water from arid and manurial soils, from that growth which exudes from new walls Tels us how to extract it in his Pirotechnia:Īs I told you in the chapter on salts, saltpeter is a mixture composed of many substances extracted Saltpeter, or niter, is the common name for potassium nitrate. Of Chile saltpeter (sodium nitrate) were of strategic interest to the world powers. However the largest deposits of nitrate are inĬhile and up until the first decade of the 20th century the mining and shipping In fact, salpeter was mined in Virginia during the Civil War and was central Is mined, typically from deposits in caves, where it is leached from guano. Sulfur is mined from underground deposits. The military and political establishments.Ĭonsequently the ingredients of gunpowder, especially sulfur and saltpeter, have Ever since, gunpowder has been a staple of By the 13th century the secret had spread to Islamic Asia where It was employed in military applications inġ0th century China. Gunpowder was invented by Chinese alchemists of the 9th century as a mixture of To be curious about the chemistry of your intended deeds. If you are such anĮvil-minded person you will probably be bored with these pages unless you happen Information in these pages is freely available. People, rest assured that they will find a way to do evil whether or not the If you are worried about such evil-minded Second aisle past the greeting cards, top shelf), and gunpowder is sold over the counterĪnywhere they sell reloading supplies. Grocery stores are full of poisons (in the automotive and household chemical sections, Information to perform acts of destruction. But it is my opinion that evil-minded people don't need this Should be carefully guarded, with fines and prison sentences for those who dare Mixtures discussed here and use it to hurt people. He (or she, to be as inclusive as possible) might make up some of the explosive What if some evil-minded purpose bent on destructive acts reads this page? Please visit the new website at Gunpowder and Explosives Introduction Caveman to Chemist Projects: Gunpowder This is the old Caveman Chemistry website.
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