How to make sodium nitrate, which can substitute for potassium nitrate in almost all pyrotechnic purposes except flame color.

Note: Sodium Nitrate is somewhat hygroscopic. Stuff you make from it such as pyrotechnic compositions should be used soon after making and not stored for extended periods of time.

WARNING: Both procedures produce large quantities of ammonia gas. You have to do this experiment outside or in a fumehood.

First get ammonium nitrate from an instant cold pack as seen in our previous video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iMeBxNcZf0

For the baking soda method. Get 80 grams of ammonium nitrate and dissolve it in 150mL of water. Filter it off directly into 84 grams of sodium bicarbonate, which is baking soda. Don't expect it to dissolve, it won't. Boil the mixture down to 100mL or less. This is needed to decompose the ammonium bicarbonate that's formed. You cannot simply evaporate the mixture. The boiling will release large amounts of ammonia so you have to do this outside or in a fumehood. Once it's boiled, leave it to evaporate until dry. Sodium nitrate will decompose if heated too strongly so you cannot boil it down all the way dry unless you can ensure the temperature never goes above 200 Celsius. Leaving a little water is the safest way to ensure the best product.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQJhf_24-QM