Equation needs balancing

[tom haggen]

Is it even possible to balance an equation for the reaction between hexamethylenetetramine and nitric acid to form RDX?


To start with you have;

C6H12N4 + HNO3 <====> C3H6N6O6 + ?

This equation was hard for me to balance for some reason. So I calculated moles from megalomania's method and found that he was using a 16:1 ratio in mols of HNO3 and C6H12N4. So I tried balancing that and it didn't work. I assumed that he was just recommending excess nitric acid to compensate for everyone. I also assume that the by product of this reaction is good ol’ H2O. I just can't balance it for the life of me.

[tom haggen]

Is it even possible to balance an equation for the reaction between hexamethylenetetramine and nitric acid to form RDX?


To start with you have;

C6H12N4 + HNO3 <====> C3H6N6O6 + ?

This equation was hard for me to balance for some reason. So I calculated moles from megalomania's method and found that he was using a 16:1 ratio in mols of HNO3 and C6H12N4. So I tried balancing that and it didn't work. I assumed that he was just recommending excess nitric acid to compensate for everyone. I also assume that the by product of this reaction is good ol’ H2O. I just can't balance it for the life of me.

[cyclonite4]

Yes, it is quite possible to balance the equation.
This seems right to me (and is consistant with reports of ammonia and formaldehyde being released):

C6H12N4 + 3HNO3 <===> (CH2)3(NNO2)3 + 3CH2O + NH3

With various methods of synthesis, HNO3 is kept heavily in excess (equilibrium thing). There is also no production of water by the reaction (water hinders the reaction).

[cyclonite4]

Yes, it is quite possible to balance the equation.
This seems right to me (and is consistant with reports of ammonia and formaldehyde being released):

C6H12N4 + 3HNO3 <===> (CH2)3(NNO2)3 + 3CH2O + NH3

With various methods of synthesis, HNO3 is kept heavily in excess (equilibrium thing). There is also no production of water by the reaction (water hinders the reaction).

[tom haggen]

I guess that’s the part I was having some trouble with was being absolutely sure of the products of the reaction. Also since this is a substitution reaction, I didn't really know if you were supposed to balance it in a linear fashion. Sticking to megalomania's method would probably be the best idea; it would just be nice to be able to predict yields with variant amounts of reactants.

[tom haggen]

I guess that’s the part I was having some trouble with was being absolutely sure of the products of the reaction. Also since this is a substitution reaction, I didn't really know if you were supposed to balance it in a linear fashion. Sticking to megalomania's method would probably be the best idea; it would just be nice to be able to predict yields with variant amounts of reactants.