Making Gunpowder with Sodium Nitrate

Welcome to Episode 9 of Molecular Playground! In this episode, I make gunpowder using sodium nitrate instead of potassium nitrate. This is the Finale of the Pour & Play series!
The theory behind this episode is that sodium nitrate packs more punch per pound than potassium nitrate, 19% more to be exact. This is because in sodium nitrate, 73% of the salt is nitrate versus 61% in potassium nitrate.
Warning:
Gunpowder fires can get very big and easily burn out of control DO NOT TRY AT HOME!
Gear Used in this Video:
△ Duda Energy 10sn 10 lb. Sodium Nitrate 99+%: amzn.to/3x3sEtD
△ Duda Energy 10 lb Yellow Sulfur Powder Fertilizer: amzn.to/3X2dbER
△ Smart Solutions Activated Charcoal Powder: amzn.to/3xcpP9A
To see more amazing content, check out Molecular Playground down here:
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[@Tyresio12]

There's a reason why KNO3 was generally used instead of NaNO3 - the latter is more hygroscopic, and you don't really want your gunpowder to be hygroscopic.

[@MolecularPlayground]

Of course! That’s the main drawback of sodium nitrate and what gives it a small shelf-life. I wanted to showcase its higher power-to-weight ratio which in turn can burn through more fuel.

[@milanpetrik7419]

@@MolecularPlayground In addition, the sulphur presence makes it corrosive, because of its oxidation to a sulphuric acid

[@peek2much3]

Put some fucking elastic string on the hat dude to hold it down.😅😅 Seriously though, really like the content and I hope you get more exposure and subs.

[@davidstuck2866]

it burns well. but you did not show making any fireworks from it. so its like watching gasoline burn. its fire. yippie.

[@uxdave]

🔥🔥🔥

[@ElPsyCongroo.]

Not gonna lie, your powder doesnt seem very good. You can see lots of solid residue which is not good and its very slow, not even a single explosion in the video. I recommend you use a ballmill to make it finer and granulate it (even water works if you dont want to spend in isopropanol or acetone). Dont be afraid of putting it in the ballmill as it wont ignite, you can even use glass marbels and any can you have and just shake it manually. Also, would be cool to see a test with an actual explosion.

[@MolecularPlayground]

Yeah, I was hoping for a little boom. It burned more like rocket exhaust if anything. From pretests, I was only able to get an explosion from adding a little bit of acetone peroxide. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@ElPsyCongroo.]

@@MolecularPlayground you should get any small container and put something like 10 grams or less and then seal it very well with electrical tape or something with a fuse of course. I was able to get a very good explosion with 6g slow non granulated black powder inside an empty box of matches sealed with electrical tape. Plastic is better of course but be careful with sharpnel, I do them inside the case of an old microwave because of that.

[@petruse8893]

You are not making gunpowder only an incendiary mixture based on sodium nitrate,without pressing and corning one can scarcely call gunpowder

[@FabrizioCacciatorre]

Gunpowder is just a mixture of nitrate salt, sulfur, carbon. It’s still gunpowder just not intimately mixed.