Some ceramicists decorate pottery using soluble salts (usually chlorides and sulfates e.g. copper chloride, cobalt sulfate) which are used individually or mixed to produce different colors.
I have been exploring the use of these chemicals on porcelain. From the MSDS of each chemical I've become aware of the safety concerns and the proper precautions to take when mixing, applying, and firing them in a kiln.
But I don't know much about chemistry and do not understand the reactions when mixing these chemicals. Are there any chemicals which should absolutely not be mixed together? For instance, the Wikipedia article on Potassium permanganate says "Concentrated sulfuric acid reacts with $\ce{KMnO4}$ to give $\ce{Mn2O7}$, which can be explosive." Does this mean I should not mix Potassium permanganate with a sulfate like Copper Sulfate? In general, what happens when a sulfate is mixed with a chloride? Are there any general safety guidelines you could offer? Is there a fairly simple way to understand these interactions without the requirement of years of Chemistry study?
Apologies for my ignorance!
Some chemicals that ceramicists have used before:
Color
- gray
- copper chloride (heavy application and heavy reduction can give pinks and reds)
- palladium chloride
- ruthenium chloride
- selenium (selenous acid, selenium toner)
- silver nitrate
- tellurium chloride
- vanadium (vanadyl sulfate, vanadium pentoxide)
- blue
- cobalt chloride
- molybdenum (molybdic acid)
- green
- ammonium chromate
- nickel chloride
- potassium dichromate
- sodium chromate
- brown
- iron chloride (iron chloride emits heat when mixed with water so the water should be added gradually in small amounts)
- pink/purple/maroon
- gold chloride (1-5% solution, adding either cobalt, manganese or
- tellurium will give different shades)
- yellow
- praseodymium chloride (very pale color)
- black
- cobalt chloride (50% solution) and iron chloride (100% solution)
- cobalt chloride (50% solution) and nickel chloride (50% solution)