Editing Nitromethane (section)

==Uses==
The dominant use of the nitromethane is as a precursor reagent. A major derivative is [[chloropicrin]] ({{chem2|CCl3NO2}}), a widely used pesticide. It condenses with [[formaldehyde]] ([[Henry reaction]]) to eventually give  [[tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane]] ("tris"), a widely used buffer and ingredient in [[alkyd resin]]s.<ref name=Markofsky/>

===Solvent and stabilizer===
The major application is as a stabilizer in chlorinated solvents. As an organic solvent, nitromethane has an unusual combination of properties: highly polar (ε<sub>r</sub> = 36 at 20&nbsp;°C and μ = 3.5 Debye) but [[Polar aprotic solvent|aprotic]] and weakly basic. This combination makes it useful for dissolving positively charged, strongly electrophilic species. It is a solvent for acrylate [[monomer]]s, such as [[cyanoacrylate]]s (more commonly known as "super-glues").<ref name=Markofsky/>

===Fuel===
Although a minor application in terms of volume,<ref name=Markofsky/> nitromethane also is used as a fuel or fuel additive for sports and hobby. For some applications, it is mixed with methanol in racing cars, boats, and model engines.

Nitromethane is used as a fuel in motor racing, particularly [[drag racing]], as well as for [[radio-controlled]] model power boats, [[cars]], [[airplane|plane]]s and [[helicopters]]. In this context, nitromethane is commonly referred to as "nitro fuel" or simply "nitro", and is the principal ingredient for fuel used in the "[[Top Fuel]]" category of drag racing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carley |first=Larry |date=2013-01-06 |title=HPBG: The Power of Racing Fuels |url=https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2013/01/hpbg-the-power-of-racing-fuels/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Engine Builder Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[oxygen]] content of nitromethane enables it to burn with much less atmospheric oxygen than conventional fuels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-05 |title=What is Nitro Methane Fuel: Understanding High-Performance Racing's Power Source - Ran When Parked - Car, Vehicle & Truck Guides and Repair Journals. |url=https://ranwhenparked.net/what-is-nitro-methane-fuel/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=ranwhenparked.net |language=en-US}}</ref> During nitromethane combustion, [[nitric oxide]] (NO) is one of the major emission products along with CO{{sub|2}} and H{{sub|2}}O.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Shrestha|first1=Krishna Prasad|last2=Vin|first2=Nicolas|last3=Herbinet|first3=Olivier|last4=Seidel|first4=Lars|last5=Battin-Leclerc|first5=Frédérique|last6=Zeuch|first6=Thomas|last7=Mauss|first7=Fabian|date=2020-02-01|title=Insights into nitromethane combustion from detailed kinetic modeling – Pyrolysis experiments in jet-stirred and flow reactors|journal=Fuel|volume=261|pages=116349|doi=10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116349|bibcode=2020Fuel..26116349S |s2cid=208755285|issn=0016-2361|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02320515/file/2020%20Fuel%20CH3NO2.pdf}}</ref> Nitric oxide contributes to air pollution, acid rain, and ozone layer depletion. Recent (2020) studies<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Shrestha|first1=Krishna Prasad|last2=Vin|first2=Nicolas|last3=Herbinet|first3=Olivier|last4=Seidel|first4=Lars|last5=Battin-Leclerc|first5=Frédérique|author5-link=Frédérique Battin-Leclerc|last6=Zeuch|first6=Thomas|last7=Mauss|first7=Fabian|date=2020-02-01|title=Insights into nitromethane combustion from detailed kinetic modeling – Pyrolysis experiments in jet-stirred and flow reactors|journal=Fuel|volume=261|pages=116349|doi=10.1016/j.fuel.2019.116349|bibcode=2020Fuel..26116349S |s2cid=208755285|issn=0016-2361|url=https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02320515/file/2020%20Fuel%20CH3NO2.pdf}}</ref> suggest the correct stoichiometric equation for the burning of nitromethane is:
:{{chem2|4 CH3NO2 + 5 O2 -> 4 CO2 + 6 H2O + 4 NO}}

The amount of air required to burn {{convert|1|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of gasoline is {{convert|14.7|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, but only {{convert|1.7|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of air is required for 1&nbsp;kg of nitromethane. Since an engine's cylinder can only contain a limited amount of air on each stroke, 8.6 times as much nitromethane as gasoline can be burned in one stroke. Nitromethane, however, has a lower specific energy: gasoline provides about 42–44 [[megajoule|MJ]]/kg, whereas nitromethane provides only 11.3 MJ/kg.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}} This analysis indicates that nitromethane generates about 2.3 times the power of gasoline when combined with a given amount of oxygen.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}

Nitromethane can also be used as a [[monopropellant]], i.e., a propellant that decomposes to release energy without added oxygen. It was first tested as rocket monopropellant in 1930s by {{ill|Luigi Crocco|it|Luigi Crocco}} fom Italian Rocket Society.<ref>{{Cite conference |last1=Boyer |first1=E. |last2=Kuo |first2=K. |date=January 2006 |title=Characteristics of Nitromethane for Propulsion Applications |url=https://arc.aiaa.org/doi/10.2514/6.2006-361 |conference=44th AIAA Aerospace Sciences Meeting and Exhibit |location=Reno, NV |doi=10.2514/6.2006-361 |isbn=978-1-62410-039-0 |id=AIAA 2006-361}}</ref><ref name="Ignition">{{Cite book |last1=Clark |first1=J. D. |url=https://archive.org/details/ignitioninformal0000clar |title=Ignition! an informal history of liquid rocket propellants |last2=Asimov |first2=Isaac |date=1972 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-0725-5 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ignitioninformal0000clar/page/9 9]-10 |url-access=registration}}</ref> There is a renewed interest in nitromethane as safer replacement of [[hydrazine]] monopropellant.<ref>{{Cite conference |last1= Kurilov |first1=Maxim |last2= Werling |first2=Lukas |last3= Kirchberger |first3=Christoph |date=2023 |title=Nitromethane as a Green Propellant: First Results of a Combustion Test Campaign |url=https://www.eucass.eu/doi/EUCASS2023-372.pdf |conference=Aerospace Europe Conference 2023 |doi=10.13009/EUCASS2023-372 |doi-access=free}}</ref> The following equation describes this process:
:{{chem2|2 CH3NO2 -> 2 CO + 2 H2O + H2 + N2}}

Nitromethane has a [[Laminar flame speed|laminar combustion velocity]] of approximately 0.5&nbsp;m/s, somewhat higher than gasoline, thus making it suitable for high-speed engines. It also has a somewhat higher [[Adiabatic flame temperature|flame temperature]] of about {{convert|2400|C|F}}. The high heat of vaporization of 0.56 MJ/kg together with the high fuel flow provides significant cooling of the incoming charge (about twice that of methanol), resulting in reasonably low temperatures.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}

Nitromethane is usually used with [[Air-fuel ratio|rich air–fuel mixtures]] because it provides power even in the absence of atmospheric oxygen. When rich air–fuel mixtures are used, hydrogen and carbon monoxide are two of the combustion products. These gases often ignite, sometimes spectacularly, as the normally very rich mixtures of the still burning fuel exits the exhaust ports. Very rich mixtures are necessary to reduce the temperature of combustion chamber hot parts in order to control pre-ignition and subsequent detonation. Operational details depend on the particular mixture and engine characteristics.{{Citation needed|date=April 2022}}

A small amount of [[hydrazine]] blended in nitromethane can increase the power output even further. With nitromethane, hydrazine forms an explosive salt that is again a monopropellant. This unstable mixture poses a severe safety hazard. The [[National Hot Rod Association]] and [[Academy of Model Aeronautics]] do not permit its use in competitions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2015-2016General.pdf |title=AMA Competition Regulations 2015–2016 Part 7. Fuels |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |page=24 |date=February 15, 2016 |website=www.modelaircraft.org |publisher=Academy of Model Aeronautics |access-date=April 18, 2014}}</ref>

In [[model aircraft]] and [[model car|car]] [[glow fuel]], the primary ingredient is generally [[methanol]] with some nitromethane (0% to 65%, but rarely over 30%, and 10–20% lubricants (usually [[castor oil]] and/or [[synthetic oil]])). Even moderate amounts of nitromethane tend to increase the power created by the engine (as the limiting factor is often the air intake), making the engine easier to tune (adjust for the proper air/fuel ratio).

===Former uses===
It formerly was used in the explosives industry as a component in a binary explosive formulation with ammonium nitrate and in shaped charges, and it was used as a chemical stabilizer to prevent decomposition of various halogenated hydrocarbons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SABIC |first=Cas AardenGraduate University of Groningen Worked as a chemist in companies such as Wilmar Oleochemicals B. Vand |title=Nitromethane: An Ultimate Guide to Properties, Uses and Synthesis |url=https://safrole.com/knowledge-base/nitromethane-an-ultimate-guide-to-properties-uses-and-synthesis/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Safrole |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Other===
It can be used as an explosive, when gelled with several percent of gelling agent. This type of mixture is called [[PLX]]. Other mixtures include ANNM and ANNMAl – explosive mixtures of ammonium nitrate, nitromethane and aluminium powder.

A YouTuber posted a video that demonstrated that burning nitromethane will give off a very unusually colored flame.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/shorts/yG34VsS6a0M |title=This flame looks fake but is real |language=en |access-date=2025-02-21 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref> The flame actually appears to be black and white. He has used methanol to start the fire in the mentioned video.