Red fuming nitric acid

Fuming (English: red fuming nitric acid, fuming nitric acid ') is the short name for an extremely strong oxidizing agent that is used as rocket fuel. The mixture of 84 % nitric acid, 13% dinitrogen tetroxide and 3% water is very reactive and is therefore treated with an inhibitor, such as hydrogen fluoride. The stabilized mixture is then as IRFNA ( inhibited red fuming nitric acid) respectively.

History

During the Second World War, the German military fuming used in missiles, such as anti-aircraft missile waterfall. The two mixtures were used designated S- material (96% nitric acid with 4% of ferric chloride ) and SV - material (94 % of nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, 6% ).

Use and characteristics

In addition to the use as a rocket propellant or a mixture of fuming WFNA (white fuming nitric acid ) with dissolved dinitrogen pentoxide and fuming sulfuric acid as the strongest nitration applies. Benzene is implemented in a step to trinitrobenzene ( TNB ), toluene to trinitrotoluene ( TNT). The yield is almost 100% of TNT, benzene not provide a good yield. In matching with some strong reducing agents such as unsymmetrical dimethyl hydrazine, hydrazine, aniline or light gasoline fuming and IRFNA act hypergolic, that is, they may spontaneously self-ignite.

Safety

Nitric acid is highly corrosive, the mixture can react explosively on contact with combustible materials. Nitrogen oxides - with the exception of nitrous oxide (N2O, laughing gas) - toxic.