Reactive Group Datasheet

Nitrites, Nitrates, and Nitro Compounds, Organic

What are reactive groups?

Reactive groups are categories of chemicals that typically react in similar ways because they are similar in their chemical structure. Each substance with a chemical datasheet has been assigned to one or more reactive groups, and CAMEO Chemicals uses the reactive group assignments to make its reactivity predictions. More Info...

If you can't find a chemical in the database--but you know what reactive group it belongs in--you can add the reactive group to MyChemicals instead in order to see the reactivity predictions.

There are 427 chemical datasheets assigned to this reactive group.

Description

Flammability

Most materials in this group are technically of low flammability. However, they are often chemically unstable and subject, in widely varying degree, to explosive decomposition. As oxidizing agents, they are often used in combination with reducing agents in explosive mixtures. Or, as in the primary explosive nitroglycerine, the oxidizing and reducing behavior is present internally in the same molecule. Because many of these substances are extremely sensitive to shock, friction, and heat, they are mixed with unreactive material to make them less dangerous.

Reactivity

Materials in this group range from slight to strong oxidizing agents. If mixed with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides and nitrides, they may begin a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation. The aromatic nitro compounds may explode in the presence of a base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide even in the presence of water or organic solvents. The explosive tendencies of aromatic nitro compounds are increased by the presence of multiple nitro groups. Nitroalkanes are milder oxidizing agents, but still react violently with reducing agents at higher temperatures and pressures. Nitroalkanes react with inorganic bases to form explosive salts. The presence of metal oxides increases the thermal sensitivity of nitroalkanes. Nitroalkanes with more than one nitro group are generally explosive. Azonitrates are extremely unstable and can decompose explosively. Nitromethane is somewhat soluble in water; the higher nitroalkanes are insoluble in water.

Toxicity

Many of the compounds in this group are extremely toxic. Chronic dermal and inhalation exposure causes hepatitis.

Other Characteristics

This group includes many subclasses, such as the metal nitrophenoxides, nitroalkanes, nitroalkenes, and nitroalkyl peroxonitrates. These substances can be generally signified by RNOx, the R being the organic portion of the molecule. Many are used in organic synthesis, but the biggest use of compounds in this group is in military and commercial explosives. Nitromethane is somewhat soluble in water; the higher nitroalkanes are insoluble in water.

Examples

Nitropyrene, nitroglycerine, dinitrophenol, trinitrotoluene, dinitrotoluene, nitropropane, amyl nitrate, nitrobenzene, dinitrocresol, dinitroaniline, ethyl nitrate, glyceryl trinitrate, dinitrobenzene, nitrocellulose, nitroanisole, nitrocyclohexane, nitroethane.

Reactivity Documentation

Click on the links below to see how this reactive group is predicted to react when it is mixed with one of the 47 reactive groups. A variety of documentation about that reactive group pair will be displayed, including predicted hazards, predicted gas byproducts, and background materials and references used to make the predictions.

Mix Nitrites, Nitrates, and Nitro Compounds, Organic with:

Search Chemicals

MyChemicals

Nitrites, Nitrates, and Nitro Compounds, Organic

What are reactive groups?

Description

Reactivity Documentation