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The following shows how to obtain KNO3 from Ammonium Nitrate and Potassium
Chloride. Ammonium Nitrate is commonly available as a fertilizer as well as KCl which
is called Muriate of Potash. The Ammonium Nitrate can be in pure form where it will
have 35% nitrogen written on the bag (100% actual Ammonium Nitrate, 0% filler). It is
usually mixed with an inert filler and will not be pure and may have 27% nitrogen written
on the bag (77.2% actual Ammonium Nitrate, 22.8% filler). The filler is not a problem.
The muriate of potash usually comes pure or fearly pure and will have 52.4% K written
on the bag (100% actual KCl, 0% gunk) if using molar percent to describe the content of
the bag OR it will have 0-0-63 (63% K2O) written on the bag (using percent K2O to
describe what is in the bag). It may be a little less pure and will have ~50% K (or ~62%
K2O) written on the bag (95.4% actual KCl, 4.6% gunk).
If the KCl is not pure it should be recrystallized and then used.
Another possible source of KCl is with the people who sell equipment for softening
water. Sodium Chloride is usually used in theses devices but some people object to
haveing any Sodium ion in their drinking water so they need to use Potassium Chloride
instead, so you may be able to get a bag of Potassium Chloride in the same place as
where they supply the NaCl for the water solteners