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Nitromethane

Nitromethane is a colourless oily liquid used in organic synthesis, and as a fuel for rockets, racing cars and model aircraft.

Why this substance is hazardous?鈥

  • Nitromethane (CH3NO3) is an energetic explosive greater than TNT (2,4,6,- Trinitrotoluene) at above normal听temperature or pressure. At room temperature and pressure,听it is flammable rather than explosive.鈥
  • It is an oxygen-poor explosive and considered insensitive so often the explosive risk is overshadowed by the听flammable risk it has when used as a fuel.听鈥
  • 鈥媁hen fuel includes nitromethane the exhaust听will contain nitric oxide vapour, which is corrosive, and when听inhaled causes a muscular reaction making it impossible to breathe.鈥

鲍蝉别蝉鈥


  • Nitromethane is an acidic carbon in organic synthesis. It is also used as a motor racing fuel particularly for听drag racing or radio-controlled models.鈥
  • The type of use will affect听how hazardous nitromethane is. Nitromethane can detonate more easily when听contaminated by acids, bases, amines or other 鈥渟ensitizing鈥 chemicals, or when handled at both increased听pressure AND elevated temperatures鈥.

Recommended control measures鈥


This is a controlled chemical听鈥 see information on听standards for all controlled chemicals.

Raised temperature and pressure

There is published evidence that nitromethane can be used in certain听experiments at a raised temperature. However, this is not standard 果冻影院 practice and must be approved by the听research group leader, and depending on the departmental O&A, the听HoD听and the full process signed off.听鈥

鈥婼迟辞谤补驳别

Store in accordance with good practice. As an explosive, nitromethane should be treated as a听controlled material and storage should be safe and secure. Any unexpected or uncontrolled loss must be听reported to 果冻影院 Safety Services.听鈥

Health surveillance听鈥


None.

Chemical safety library


> Read more about control measures for chemicals in our chemical safety library

Interesting fact


On听1st听June 1958听a railroad tanker containing听nitromethane exploded, the cause was听thought to be due to adiabatic pressure (air听bubbles compressing and superheating due to a听rise in pressure) 鈥 This risk is common to all听liquid explosives.

Last updated: Thursday, June 24, 2021