flamingape Posted June 3, 2008 Posted June 3, 2008 has anybody ever tried to Dissolve sulfur and recrystallize that into a block of charcoal, then, dissolve KNO3 and recrystallize THAT into the same block of charcoal? sulfur is insoluble in water, KNO3 is insoluble in some of the things sulfur is soluble in...... might just make a VERY flammable chunk of pyrolized wood...
crazyboy25 Posted June 3, 2008 Posted June 3, 2008 What would you dissolve the sulfur in? Also how would you make sure the KNO3 and sulfur reach the inside of the charcoal instead of the more likely chance they will just form a crust around the edge. Also a ball mill can break potassium nitrate into pieces much smaller then the crystals which can be a couple mm long significantly slowing down speed. Bottom line it won't work, people have been making BP the same way for hundreds of years because it WORKS.
Mumbles Posted June 3, 2008 Posted June 3, 2008 Carbon Disulfide is really the only choice. Boiling toluene very sparingly dissolves sulfur. There are ways of rapid crystalization to force the formation of very small crystals. Don't claim it won't work if you really have no idea. It is impractical, and dangerous, but there is nothing from stopping it from working. Just because it works, doesn't mean it's the best. Economics do play a role.
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