posted October 14, 1999 09:07 PM         

3000 grams Kno3
400 grams sulfer
600 grams charcoal

Does anyone know why it isn't burning?? i need it for tomorrow night so if anyone could help me out as quickly as possiable i would be most greatful. What do i need to add?? and how much??

thanks

posted October 14, 1999 09:46 PM         

What charcoal did you use? I have used regualr charcoal briquettes before and smashed them into flour like dust with a hammer and it worked just fine. I then mixed the ingredients dry and it would light after a little while (dip a burning match in the powder to make some of it stick to it, then once it starts burning press the match into the corner of the pile). I have only done the CIA method once and I didn't see much improvement.

I see it as you haven't tried hard enough to get it to light or your charcoal is whacky...

posted October 15, 1999 04:22 AM         

2KNO3 + C + S -> K2SO4 + N2 + CO2
the oxygen balanced mole ratio should be
kno3 : s : c =2 : 1 : 1

in mass, the ratio should be
kno3 : s : c =202 : 32 : 12

stretch it up
kno3 : s : c =3030 : 480 : 180

there's "way too much charcoal" yet not enough oxygen.(u got 420g of extra charcoal,
more than twice of actually needed)

if u want to keep work on this thing :
you have to add 37.5 moles of s =1200g of s
add 70 moles of kno3, which is 7070g.

I would probably flush it into sewer and start over again if i was in such situation.

Or use water to extract KNO3 to save it,if
you don't mind losing 3000 grams of KNO3.