Dinitrogen tetroxide

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Dinitrogen tetroxide
Names
IUPAC name
Dinitrogen tetraoxide
Other names
Dinitrogen tetraoxide
Nitrogen tetraoxide
Nitrogen tetroxide
Properties
N2O4
Molar mass 92.011 g/mol
Appearance Colorless liquid/Orange gas
Odor Suffocating, unpleasant
Density 1.44246 g/cm3 (liquid, 21 °C)
Melting point −11.2 °C (11.8 °F; 261.9 K) (decomposes to NO2)
Boiling point 21.69 °C (71.04 °F; 294.84 K)
Reacts
Vapor pressure 96 kPa (20 °C)
Thermochemistry
304.29 J·K−1·mol−1
9.16 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet SolGroup
Flash point Non-flammable
Related compounds
Related compounds
Nitrous oxide
Nitric oxide
Dinitrogen trioxide
Nitrogen dioxide
Dinitrogen pentoxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Dinitrogen tetroxide is the chemical compound N2O4. It is a useful reagent in chemical synthesis. It forms an equilibrium mixture with nitrogen dioxide.

Properties

Chemical

Dinitrogen tetroxide exists in equilibrium with nitrogen dioxide:

N2O4 ⇌ 2 NO2

Higher temperatures push the equilibrium towards nitrogen dioxide.

Physical

Dinitrogen teroxide is a colorless liquid, sometimes reddish-brown, which reacts violently with water. It has an acrid unpleasant odor, reminiscent of car smog.

Unlike NO2, N2O4 is diamagnetic since it has no unpaired electrons.

Availability

Dinitrogen tetraoxide is available as liquid, but only for industrial entities.

Preparation

Condensation of nitrogen dioxide at low temperatures will yield dinitrogen tetraoxide. The process is reversible.

Projects

  • Make nitrogen dioxide
  • Make anhydrous nitrate salts

Handling

Safety

Dinitrogen tetroxide is highly corrosive and toxic. Contact with certain chemicals, like hydrazine will result in ignition.

Storage

At low temperatures. Do not store it for long.

Disposal

Can be neutralized by slowly dissolving it in a large volume of water, followed by neutralization with a base.

References

Relevant Sciencemadness threads