Reexamination of KNO3IV and transition rate of KNO3II ⇋ KNO3IV*

Abstract
Use of a modified Bridgman anvil device and a supported beryllium cylinder with both molybdenum and copper radiation has yielded sufficiently accurate diffraction data to warrant a general attempt at indexing of the high-pressure polymorph KNO3 IV. Indexing is best accomplished on the basis of an orthorhombic cell having a = 11.048 Å, b = 8.367 Å, c = 7.402 Å, and 10 KNO3 per cell. The larger RbNO3-type unit cell established by Jamieson (1956) with Z = 18 is open to question because of new diffraction data which do not allow centering on C. Although a complete structure analysis has not yet been carried out, possible positions for the K+ ions are suggested having the symmetry of the space group Pmn21. Rate studies on the transition KNO3 II ⇋ KNO3 IV show an over-all approach to first-order kinetics but in detail reveal several growth stages.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: