Nitromethane

Nitromethane is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH₃NO₂. It is the simplest organic nitro compound.

Properties

Physical

Nitromethane is a colorless, slightly viscous, highly polar liquid. It is poorly soluble in water. It freezes at −29°C and boils at around 100°C

Availability

Nitromethane is often available from lab suppliers at a price of around $100/L. It is also sold in many places locally for use in RC fuel, either pure or as a mixture with methanol and oil. Separation of the nitromethane from this mixture can be quite difficult, but it is achievable with good technique.

Preparation

Nitromethane is produced industrially by treating propane with nitric acid at 350–450 °C. This exothermic reaction produces the four industrially significant nitroalkanes: nitromethane, nitroethane, 1-nitropropane, and 2-nitropropane. Nitromethane is then separated via fractional distillation.

Another method involves the reaction between sodium chloroacetate and sodium nitrite in aqueous solution:

ClCH₂COONa + NaNO₂ + H₂O → CH₃NO₂ + NaCl + NaHCO₃

Projects

• Methyl nitroacetate synthesis
• Fuel
• Make ANNM
• Facile synthesis of hydroxylammonium salts

Handling

Safety

Nitromethane is quite inflammable so it should not be handled around open flames or other ignition sources. Pure nitromethane is a powerful explosive, though it is rather insensitive and difficult to initiate. Gloves should be worn when working with nitromethane to prevent accidental skin contact.