Question

When potassium is allowed to burn in a gas jar of chlorine, in a fume cupboard, clouds of white smoke are produced. what does the white smoke consist of?

Answer 1

When potassium is heated in an iron deflagrating spoon until it ignites and then lowered in dry jars of oxygen, it burns with bright lilac flame forming orange-yellow solid higher oxides (e.g. potassium peroxide, K2O2, and potassium dioxide, KO2). 2 K + O2 ==> K2O2 Potassium Peroxide K + O2 ==> KO2 Potassium Dioxide When these substances are dissolved in water, oxygen is evolved and an alkaline solutions, containing potassium hydroxide, which turn red litmus blue is formed.> 2 K2O2 + 4 H2O ==> 4 KOH + O2 Potassium Potassium Peroxide Hydroxide 4 KO2 + 2H2O ==> 4 KOH + 3 O2 Potassium Potassium Dioxide Hydroxide