Hydroxylammonium nitrate

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Hydroxylammonium nitrate
Names
IUPAC name
Hydroxylammonium nitrate
Other names
Hydroxylamine nitrate
Properties
H4N2O4
H2NOH·HNO3
Molar mass 96.04 g/mol
Appearance White solid
Odor Odorless
Density 1.84 g/cm3
Melting point 48 °C (118 °F; 321 K)
Boiling point Detonates
Soluble
Solubility Reacts with alkali
Hazards
Related compounds
Related compounds
Hydroxylammonium chloride
Hydroxylammonium perchlorate
Hydroxylammonium sulfate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Hydroxylammonium nitrate or hydroxylamine nitrate (HAN) is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula NH3OH·NO3 or H4N2O4, the nitrate salt of hydroxylamine.

Properties

Chemical

Hydroxylammonium nitrate is unstable because it contains both a reducing agent (hydroxylammonium cation) and an oxidizer (nitrate), the situation being analogous to ammonium nitrate. It is usually handled as an aqueous solution.

Mixtures with polyvinyl alcohol can be used to prepare a electric solid propellant (ESP) called HIPEP, which has the interesting property of not igniting unless a continuous electric current is applied, and will stop burning when the electric current is stopped. This property makes it useful as a stable and controllable rocket propellant.[1]

Physical

Hydroxylammonium nitrate is a white solid, soluble in water.

Explosive

Hydroxylammonium nitrate is sensitive to shock and its sensitivity is greatly increased by the presence of metal salts. It will also explode if heated above 48 °C.

Availability

Hydroxylammonium nitrate is available as aq. solution, and the solid form usually has to be prepared in situ.

Preparation

Hydroxylammonium nitrate can be easily produced by mixing hydroxylammonium sulfate with barium nitrate.

(NH3OH)2SO4 + Ba(NO3)2 → 2 NH3OHNO3 + BaSO4

Alternatively, an aq. solution of silver or lead(II) nitrate can be added to an aq. solution of hydroxylammonium chloride.

NH3OHCl + AgNO3 → NH3OHNO3 + AgCl
2 NH3OHCl + Pb(NO3)2 → 2 NH3OHNO3 + PbCl2

Various preparation methods can be found here

Projects

Handling

Safety

Hydroxylammonium nitrate is flammable and explosive.

It is an irritant to the respiratory tract, skin, eyes, and other mucous membranes.

Storage

For safety reasons, it's best to store it as aq. solution, and avoid storing it in solid form for long periods of time.

Disposal

Hydroxylammonium nitrate should be diluted with water first, then gently reduced with a mixture of Zn/HCl.

It can also be neutralized by diluting it with water and carefully adding iron salts that accelerate its decomposition.

References

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHRyv7ARb5M

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