Sciencemadness Discussion Board

My failure in making petn

tank man - 19-5-2017 at 06:17

First,i am a chinese and my english is not very good, in larst week,my first time in making petn,i add pentaerythrite which isnt been grinded to mixed acid ,pentaerythrite isnt dissolve and temperature isnt rise

tank man - 19-5-2017 at 06:18

Why

Chisholm - 19-5-2017 at 06:26

We need much more information about what you did. An estimate of how much of each reactant, the addition rate, how long you waited, how you measured the temperature, etc.

PETN doesn't readily dissolve in mixed acid; you have to add the pentaerythrite slowly to very concentrated nitric acid (HNO3), let it dissolve, and only then add the sulfuric acid (H2SO4), very slowly.

If the pentaerythrite isn't powdered, but is instead large chunks, then it would dissolve so slowly in mixed acid that the reaction could take a very long time, releasing heat so slowly that it wasn't noticeable.

NOTE: PETN requires very concentrated nitric acid (at least 90%, preferably 98% or more) to get decent yields. If all you have is 67% or 70% nitric acid, you could try using more sulfuric acid than normal, but your yield will still be low.

[Edited on 5-19-2017 by Chisholm]

tank man - 19-5-2017 at 06:33

Quote: Originally posted by Chisholm  
We need much more information about what you did. An estimate of how much of each reactant, the addition rate, how long you waited, how you measured the temperature, etc.

PETN doesn't readily dissolve in mixed acid; you have to add the pentaerythrite slowly to very concentrated nitric acid, let it dissolve, and only then add the sulfuric acid, very slowly.

If the pentaerythrite isn't powdered, but is instead large chunks, then it would dissolve so slowly in mixed acid that the reaction could take a very long time, releasing heat so slowly that it wasn't noticeable. thanks，i will have anther experiment when i go to school next week


[Edited on 5-19-2017 by Chisholm]

Laboratory of Liptakov - 20-5-2017 at 11:00

Here is procedure in pictures for all harmless: https://vimeo.com/217289797

Melgar - 23-6-2017 at 10:34

Anyone else take note of his username?

https://www.google.com/search?q=tank+man&tbm=isch

[Edited on 6/23/17 by Melgar]

PHILOU Zrealone - 23-6-2017 at 13:06

Quote: Originally posted by Melgar  
Anyone else take note of his username?

https://www.google.com/search?q=tank+man&tbm=isch

[Edited on 6/23/17 by Melgar]


What about tank girl then...Popopeyooo :-)