Nomenclature
CAS number: 79-24-3
C
2H
5NO
2; mol wt 75.07.
C 32.00%, H 6.71%, N 18.66%, O 42.63%.
CH
3CH
2NO
2.
Description and references
Obtained by vapor phase nitration of ethane
with HNO3: Reidel, Oil Gas J. 54, no. 36, 110-114 (1956). Laboratory prepn by treating
1.5 moles sodium nitrite with 1 mole sodium ethyl sulfate at 125-130°
in the presence of 0.0625 moles potassium carbonate: Desseigne, Giral, Mem. Poudres 34, 49-53 (1952), C.A. 49, 836 (1955). Similar
procedure according to the equation EtOSO2OEt + NaNO2 → EtOSO2ONa + EtNO2: McCombie et al., J. Chem. Soc. 1944, 24.
Properties
Oily liquid; pleasant odor. d2525 1.041; d2020 1.052. Flash pt, open cup: 106°F (41.11°C). mp ≈-50°. bp 114-115°. Undergoes thermal decompn at 335-382°. Heating
value (liquid): 7,720 Btu/lb. Lower limit of flammability in air
= 4.0% by volume. Viscosity (25°): 0.661 cP. nD20 1.3917; nD24.3 1.39007. Soly in water: 4.5
ml/100 ml H2O at 20°. Miscible with methanol, ethanol,
ether. Sol in chloroform, aq solns of alkalies. Has high heat of
absorption. Sudden absorption of the anhydr liquid or gas on activated
carbon or Hopcalite may result in flames: Chem. Eng. News 30, 2344 (1952).Caution
Potential symptom of overexposure
by direct contact is dermatitis. See NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (DHHS/NIOSH 97-140,
1997) p 228. Potential symptom of overexposure by ingestion is methemoglobinemia.
See G. Shepherd et al., Clin. Toxicol. 36, 613 (1998).Use
Solvent, artificial fingernail glue remover; in
organic syntheses. Experimentally as liq propellant.