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by chipotle on January 16th, 2007

chipotle

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Can Potassium permanganate be used in place of potassium nitrate to make a black powder propellant for model rocketry?
Would the proportions have to change?

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Answers. 5 helpful answers below.

  • by maddock on January 22nd, 2007

    maddock

    No; KMnO4 is not volatile in the least, and cannot be made so without extensive chemical alteration. It's simply an inert inorganic reagent which cannot be rectified into an oxide or other volatile chemical even by standard and generally expensive and exotic reactions.

    Theoretically it can be combined with ethylene glycol to produce flame (but not explosion), not for the amateur.

    It's a purple salt.. that is about all.

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  • by Ullyses on January 22nd, 2007

    Ullyses

    Yes it can, although I don't know what the proportions would have to be. I know only because we use potassium permanganate to clean out our fish tank if the bacteria get out of hand (it's a terrific reducing agent and stains very badly), and it warns on the label that it can be explosive.

    Of course you will have to let the police be aware if you intend purchasing it, because you might be taken to be a terrorist and the pharmacist is honour-bound to inform the police of all potassium permanganate sales anyway.

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  • by Anonymous on May 16th, 2008

    Anonymous

    Potassium permanganate mixtures, especially containing sulfur, are too unstable for rocketry use. You'd be advised to investigate the potassium nitrate/sucrose mixture instead. It produces good thrust and is easy to work with, and is well documented on the internet.

    Plus, it's almost impossible to get it to explode, unlike black powder and especially potassium permanganate mixtures.

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  • by chipotle on January 27th, 2007

    chipotle

    I do know that heating KMnO4 releases O2. We did this as a High school chemistry experiment. heating Potassium permanganate in a test tube and then putting the glowing enbers of a popsicle stick into it caused it to flare up and burst into flames.

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  • by Ben_N on August 18th, 2010

    Ben_N

    Potassium permanganate is a strong oxidizer. It can be used in model rocketry, however, it is usually used in this application mixed with sugar and sulphur rather then charcoal and sulphur. I am not sure on the proportions needed for this reaction but there is a document called "Flive Cent Sugar Rockets" (note the 'L' in five) floating around the internet which comprehensively explains this. I have made them before and they go as well as a bought rocket of comparable size. That being said it is difficult to achieve ignition without a lower order explosive and humidity is your enemy.

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