Ammonium nitrate
- trish armstrong
- Posts: 224
- Joined: 01 Sep 2008, 07:26
- Job Title: lab Assistant SAO
- School: Taree High School
- Suburb: Taree
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
I'm in Taree, but I'd hate to borrow and never be able to replace it.
Well looks like we can't have that prac anymore. The teachers can surely come up with something else. I am looking into the instant ice packs, So far, most are ammonium nitrate free.
Thanks, Trish
Well looks like we can't have that prac anymore. The teachers can surely come up with something else. I am looking into the instant ice packs, So far, most are ammonium nitrate free.
Thanks, Trish
- rae
- Posts: 1045
- Joined: 31 May 2006, 10:00
- School: Oxley College
- Suburb: Burradoo
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Trish
What prac are you doing maybe we can come up with an alternative for you.
PS which high school do you work for?
What prac are you doing maybe we can come up with an alternative for you.
PS which high school do you work for?
-
- Posts: 193
- Joined: 27 Jul 2007, 15:29
- Job Title: Lab technician
- School: The Illawarra Grammar School
- Suburb: Figtree
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Hi all,
We are doing the prac 'Measuring the Heat of Solution' which uses ammonium nitrate and sodium hydroxide, and I need an alternative for the ammonium nitrate. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Ellice.
We are doing the prac 'Measuring the Heat of Solution' which uses ammonium nitrate and sodium hydroxide, and I need an alternative for the ammonium nitrate. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Ellice.
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Hi Ellice,
is ammonium nitrate endothermic? I think potassium thiosulfate when dissolving will give you endothermic reaction. Is that, what you need it for?
Lada
is ammonium nitrate endothermic? I think potassium thiosulfate when dissolving will give you endothermic reaction. Is that, what you need it for?
Lada
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Also ammonium chloride in water
-
- Posts: 193
- Joined: 27 Jul 2007, 15:29
- Job Title: Lab technician
- School: The Illawarra Grammar School
- Suburb: Figtree
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Hi Lada,
Yes, endothermic. I have found these alternatives in case anyone needs them in future;
sodium acetate, sodium nitrate, sodium thiosulfate.
Ellice.
Yes, endothermic. I have found these alternatives in case anyone needs them in future;
sodium acetate, sodium nitrate, sodium thiosulfate.
Ellice.
Re: Ammonium nitrate
This is what we use every year:
EXOTHERMIC
1 Calcium in Water; 1-2 grains of Calcium + 10 mLs Water
2 Magnesium and 0.5M HCl.: 10 cm piece Mg ribbon + 10 mLs 0.5M HCl.
3 Manganese Dioxide and Hydrogen Peroxide : 1 gm Manganese Dioxide = 10 mLs H2O2
ENDOTHERMIC
1 Ammonium Chloride in Water : 2 gms Ammonium Chloride +10 mLs Water
2 Potassium Chloride and Water: 2 gms Potassium Chloride + 10 mLs Water
3 Sodium Thiosulfate and 0.1M Hydrochloric Acid; 2 gms Sodium Thiosulfate + 10 mLs HCl
Found two great ones on the internet this year that are even better though..Citric Acid/Sodium Bicarb: 25 ml of citric acid solution [about 1m I think], with 15gm of Sodium Bicarbonate - no toxic chemicals!
THE BEST ONE: using Barium Hydroxide and ammonium thiocyanate..
32gm barium Hydroxide and 17gm Ammonium thiocyante just mixed together in a flask.. goes to freezing very quickly.
have fun
EXOTHERMIC
1 Calcium in Water; 1-2 grains of Calcium + 10 mLs Water
2 Magnesium and 0.5M HCl.: 10 cm piece Mg ribbon + 10 mLs 0.5M HCl.
3 Manganese Dioxide and Hydrogen Peroxide : 1 gm Manganese Dioxide = 10 mLs H2O2
ENDOTHERMIC
1 Ammonium Chloride in Water : 2 gms Ammonium Chloride +10 mLs Water
2 Potassium Chloride and Water: 2 gms Potassium Chloride + 10 mLs Water
3 Sodium Thiosulfate and 0.1M Hydrochloric Acid; 2 gms Sodium Thiosulfate + 10 mLs HCl
Found two great ones on the internet this year that are even better though..Citric Acid/Sodium Bicarb: 25 ml of citric acid solution [about 1m I think], with 15gm of Sodium Bicarbonate - no toxic chemicals!
THE BEST ONE: using Barium Hydroxide and ammonium thiocyanate..
32gm barium Hydroxide and 17gm Ammonium thiocyante just mixed together in a flask.. goes to freezing very quickly.
have fun
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Hi All,
Hmmmmmm...!
Cheers,
Robb.....
Hmmmmmm...!
Cheers,
Robb.....
Last edited by Robb on 01 Aug 2011, 21:18, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Inclusion of text
Reason: Inclusion of text
Dr Robert Crosdale. MRACI. NSS. NSSA. NASA.
Ph.D (Chem), Post Grad Ph.D (Physics), M.Ed, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Appl. Sc. (Chem)
Lake Munmorah High School.
University of New England.
University of New South Wales.
University of Newcastle.
To understand the Universe from our perspective, we need to look towards our own backyard first for answers.
** AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - SEMPER EXPLORO **
Ph.D (Chem), Post Grad Ph.D (Physics), M.Ed, B.Sc (Hons), Dip. Appl. Sc. (Chem)
Lake Munmorah High School.
University of New England.
University of New South Wales.
University of Newcastle.
To understand the Universe from our perspective, we need to look towards our own backyard first for answers.
** AD ASTRA PER ASPERA - SEMPER EXPLORO **
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Is there a suitable substitute for ammonium nitrate.
No one here seems to believe me when I tell them that we can no longer buy it, and when the small amount we do have is gone, its gone.
Yet it keeps being ordered for a Yr8 prac...and demo. Surely at that level there is another chem that would do the same thing???
The whole order is Mg Ribbon, HcL, Sodium Crbonate, NaOh, and testtubes, foil and matches....not sure whats happening in this prac though.
No one here seems to believe me when I tell them that we can no longer buy it, and when the small amount we do have is gone, its gone.
Yet it keeps being ordered for a Yr8 prac...and demo. Surely at that level there is another chem that would do the same thing???
The whole order is Mg Ribbon, HcL, Sodium Crbonate, NaOh, and testtubes, foil and matches....not sure whats happening in this prac though.
Re: Ammonium nitrate
If they want to demonstrate endothermic reaction, we use KCl in water or ammonium chloride. It soes not give you such a temp difference as ammnium nitrate, but good enough.
Lada
Lada
- DavidPeterson
- Posts: 196
- Joined: 02 Apr 2012, 12:19
- Job Title: STEM Resource & Lab Manager
- School: Murray Bridge High School
- Suburb: Murray Bridge
- State/Location: SA
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Most nitrates are endothermic with respect to solubility. Other options are citric acid (just use the cheap stuff you get for baking from the supermarket) or sodium thiosulphate.
A really good demo is ammonium thiocyanate in water - check out video demos on youtube.
A really good demo is ammonium thiocyanate in water - check out video demos on youtube.
DCP
STEM Resource @ Laboratory Manager
RPAS (Drone) Pilot
STEM Resource @ Laboratory Manager
RPAS (Drone) Pilot
- fibreweb
- Posts: 620
- Joined: 20 Jul 2006, 10:00
- School: Oxley High School
- Suburb: Tamworth
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
I discovered totally by accident about a week ago as i was preparing a Potassium Iodide solution that it also is markedly endothermic.
I have just done a very quick comparison of a small spatula of KI in 10mls of water compared to the same amount of Ammonium Nitrate in the same amount of water plus a control using 3 temperature probes and our Lab Quest
I got some surprising results. On the first run the KI dropped the temp by 12.5 degrees from 21.7 to 9.2 within 30 seconds and the Ammonium Nitrate dropped by 10.36 from 20.46 to 10.1 by 60 seconds.
On my second run the KI dropped to 9.3 degrees and the Ammonium Nitrate to 8.2.
Whilst there is some degree of error as I had to put one lot of chemical in and then the next and couldn't stir either of them it does show that Potassium Iodide could be used as a substitute for Ammonium Nitrate.
I have just done a very quick comparison of a small spatula of KI in 10mls of water compared to the same amount of Ammonium Nitrate in the same amount of water plus a control using 3 temperature probes and our Lab Quest
I got some surprising results. On the first run the KI dropped the temp by 12.5 degrees from 21.7 to 9.2 within 30 seconds and the Ammonium Nitrate dropped by 10.36 from 20.46 to 10.1 by 60 seconds.
On my second run the KI dropped to 9.3 degrees and the Ammonium Nitrate to 8.2.
Whilst there is some degree of error as I had to put one lot of chemical in and then the next and couldn't stir either of them it does show that Potassium Iodide could be used as a substitute for Ammonium Nitrate.
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- Posts: 1795
- Joined: 20 Mar 2007, 10:00
- Job Title: Lab Assistant
- Suburb: Tamworth
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Good on you Wendy! I love designing my own little experiments as I think of them Sometimes they even come in handy, like yours!
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- Posts: 1795
- Joined: 20 Mar 2007, 10:00
- Job Title: Lab Assistant
- Suburb: Tamworth
- State/Location: NSW
Re: Ammonium nitrate
we have a container of it labelled
Ammonium Nitrate "off the farm"
It was here when I got here. I just had a go at it and it got quite cold quite quickly (I didn't use a thermometer) so that may be an option if your teachers just can't handle the fact that we can't buy it anymore. I had a teacher quite surprised yesterday when I said we didn't have any (my 'off the farm' container was nowhere to be found! Besides, I'd never seen that one used, I've always made them come up with an alternative). She said something along the lines of "what has it come to when they are banning THAT??" I guess she's forgotten all the other times I've told her... but then again, I just found my "off the farm" container while putting away one of her pracs!
Ammonium Nitrate "off the farm"
It was here when I got here. I just had a go at it and it got quite cold quite quickly (I didn't use a thermometer) so that may be an option if your teachers just can't handle the fact that we can't buy it anymore. I had a teacher quite surprised yesterday when I said we didn't have any (my 'off the farm' container was nowhere to be found! Besides, I'd never seen that one used, I've always made them come up with an alternative). She said something along the lines of "what has it come to when they are banning THAT??" I guess she's forgotten all the other times I've told her... but then again, I just found my "off the farm" container while putting away one of her pracs!
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- Posts: 515
- Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 10:48
- Job Title: Lab Tech
- School: NDSC
- Suburb: west gippsland
- State/Location: VIC
Re: Ammonium nitrate
Yes, Sodium Thiosulphate goes cold really quickly, quick and easy and not a nitrate. Sorry too lazy to do test results.
- nickykinz
- Posts: 271
- Joined: 02 Feb 2009, 12:53
- Job Title: Lab Assistant
- School: St Augustine's College
- Suburb: Augustine Heights
- State/Location: QLD
Re: Ammonium nitrate
When I first started here the 8/9 students used to do an investigation using Urea to cool things down. Haven't done it for a few years so can't remember the details.
Nicky
St Augustine's College
Augustine Heights, QLD 4300
St Augustine's College
Augustine Heights, QLD 4300
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- Posts: 22
- Joined: 10 Apr 2014, 10:10
- Job Title: Lab Assistant
- School: Merrylands High School
- Suburb: Merrylands
- State/Location: NSW
ammonium nitrate
HI I buy all my Chemicals from Serrata...But Im after Ammonium Nitrate & they dont sell it. Any one know where I could get it from.. Im only a NEW Labbie so I only know Serrata...TIA
Amanda
- Labbie
- Posts: 3247
- Joined: 28 Nov 2006, 10:00
- Job Title: Retired
- Suburb: At Home
- State/Location: NSW
Re: ammonium nitrate
It will not be sold any more in Australia, we have been told we can use what we have, but we can not purchase any more EVER.
Regards Labbie
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
Lab Manager/Lab Tech, mind reading etc etc
Now retired
- Xenon
- Posts: 264
- Joined: 09 Jun 2006, 10:00
- Job Title: Rocket Scientist
- School: Arndell Anglican College
- Suburb: Oakville
- State/Location: NSW
Re: ammonium nitrate
Hi Amanda
Ammonium Nitrate is now a banned chemical in schools; terrorists use it for making bombs. There's another thread about it here.
Ammonium Nitrate is now a banned chemical in schools; terrorists use it for making bombs. There's another thread about it here.
Xe, SD, KOPR