ummm im confused. what i know about nomenclature makes me think i detect an error, but on the other hand i trust the findings of such experienced ppl.......
my problem: CH3Cl + NaNO2 --> CH3NO2 + NaCl
Thats fine. BUT CH3NO2 produced this way is methyl nitrite, NOT nitromethane.
NaNO2 = Na-O-N=O
methyl nitrite = CH3-O-N=O meaning N valency = 3
nitromethane = CH3-N=O;=O meaning N valency = 5
See the difference? am i missing something everyone else understands and i don't? right now i don't think so. enlighten me.
sorry im not being clear: i mean why in the world would only 10% methyl nitrite be formed? why would ANY nitromethane be formed at all? its just a simple electrophilic substitution right?
Of COURSE we don't know what we're doing! That's why it's called research! (boom...)