The Methylamine FAQ v2.7...
*CAUTION*
The lower nitroalkanes form shock and/or temperature sensitive EXPLOSIVE compounds with amines and hydroxides. BE CAREFUL, DAMNIT! You have been warned...
At the end of this time, allow to cool then add enough 25% Sodium Hydroxide solution to to get the pH above 11. Heat on a water bath or with gentle electric heat to drive the Methylamine off as a gas into the same beaker of Hydrochloric acid used as a trap during the reaction.
That is to say the solution will no longer be acidic at one point, does this pose any consideration for a conserned bee?
If anyone manages to detonate a diluted solution of nitromethane then better file a patent for it, because you have achieved what many before you tried but nobody was able to make it work.
Theres been much study in the area of detonating 'diluted solutions of nitromethane' has there? :P
Well say there is some nitromethane left in the reaction, one proceeds to basify with NaOH and additionaly boils the solution gently to evolve any methylamine gas - so one might assert we have some amount of MeNO2 vapor, gasious MeNH2 and highly flamable alcoholic vapor. Could this sinerio be a convern?
Im sorry if im seem to be beating a dead house, but i recall some fella who did a pressurized wacker in a glass flask and had it blow up in his face (anyone remember that thread!?) and im working from that idea. Just trying to take all precaution possible. thanks all for the input though.
Well say there is some nitromethane left in the reaction, one proceeds to basify with NaOH and additionaly boils the solution gently to evolve any methylamine gas - so one might assert we have some amount of MeNO2 vapor, gasious MeNH2 and highly flamable alcoholic vapor.
Could lead to explosion, if enough nitromethane was left to form the sodium salt with sodium hydroxide and if the mixture was evaporated to dryness, leaving a residue of the sodium salt of nitromethane, which is very sensitive to shock and friction (dangerous primary explosive). But if enough liquid is left in your reaction flask, the sodium salt will stay dissolved, so there should not be any risk of an explosion.