Editing Nitromethane (section)

== Preparation ==
Nitromethane is produced industrially by combining [[propane]] and [[nitric acid]] in the gas phase at {{convert|350|–|450|C|F}}. This [[exothermic]] reaction produces the four industrially significant nitroalkanes: nitromethane, [[nitroethane]], [[1-nitropropane]], and [[2-Nitropropane|2-nitropropane]]. The reaction involves free radicals, including the alkoxyl radicals of the type {{chem2|CH3CH2CH2O}}, which arise via [[Homolysis (chemistry)|homolysis]] of the corresponding nitrite [[ester]]. These alkoxy radicals are susceptible to C—C fragmentation reactions, which explains the formation of a mixture of products.<ref name=Markofsky>{{ cite encyclopedia | author = Markofsky, S. B. | chapter = Nitro Compounds, Aliphatic | encyclopedia = Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry | year = 2000 | publisher = Wiley-VCH | location = Weinheim | doi = 10.1002/14356007.a17_401.pub2 | isbn = 978-3527306732 }}</ref>

===Laboratory methods===
It can also be prepared by other methods that are of instructional value. The reaction of [[chloroacetic acid|sodium chloroacetate]] with [[sodium nitrite]] in [[aqueous]] solution produces this compound, along with [[sodium chloride]] and [[sodium bicarbonate]]:<ref>{{OrgSynth | author = Whitmore, F. C. | author2 = Whitmore, M. G. | title = Nitromethane | collvol = 1 | collvolpages = 401 | year = 1941 | prep = cv1p0401 }}</ref>
:{{chem2|ClCH2COONa + NaNO2 + H2O -> CH3NO2 + NaCl + NaHCO3}}