Combustion of potassium nitrate and coal - KNO3

Potassium nitrate is a colorless or white crystalline solid. Its melting point is 334 ° C. When heated to 400 ° C decomposes to oxygen and potassium nitrite.

Potassium nitrate is an oxidizing agent. For this reason, its main use was to produce black powder. Currently used in pyrotechnics as an oxidant, such as to produce pulses or short and very light pulses generated during the combustion of a mixture of fine particles of metal nitrate. When mixed with a saccharide such as sucrose, in stoichiometric proportions and melt forms a flammable substance (known as caramel or caramel) with a melting point of 400 ° C, the temperature reaches 600 ° C and produces a lot of smoke.