Information About

Hexanitrobenzene




  IUPAC Name 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexanitrobenzene
  chemical Formula C <sub>6</sub> N <sub>6</sub> O <sub>12</sub>
  molecular Weight 3480996 G / Mol
  shock Sensitivity None
  friction Sensitivity None
  density 1985 G / Cm<sup>3</sup>
  explosive Velocity 9,340 M/s
  RE Factor
  melting Point 256-264 °C
  boiling Point N/A
  appearance Yellow or brown powdered crystals
  PubChem


Hexanitrobenzene, also known as '''HNB''', is a high- Density Explosive Compound with Chemical Formula C 6 N 6 O 12, obtained by Oxidizing the Amine group of Pentanitroaniline with Hydrogen Peroxide in Sulfuric Acid . Its Molecular Mass is 348.0996 g/ Mol , its density 1.985 g/cm³, and its Heat Of Formation is 17.48 KJ /mol.

HNB has the undesirable property of being moderately sensitive to light and therefore hard to utilize safely. It is not currently used in any production explosives applications, though it is used as a precursor chemical in one method of production of TATB , another explosive.


HNB was experimentaly used as a gas source for explosively pumped Gas Dynamic Laser {Link without Title} . In this application
HNB and Tetranitromethane is prefered to more convetional explosives because the explosion products CO2 + N2 are enought simple mixure to simulate gas dynamic proceses, and it's quite similar to conventional gas dynamic laser medium. Water and hydrogen as product of many explosive could interfere with vibrational states of CO2 in this type of laser.

Preparation

During World War II a method of synthesis of hexanitrobenzene was suggested
in Germany, and the product was supposed to be manufactured on a semi-industrial
scale according to the following scheme:
C6H3(N02)3 -> partial reduction -> C6H3(NH0H)3 -> Nitration -> C6(NO2)3(NH0H)3 -> oxidation -> C6(NO2)6

straightway nitration of benzene is practicaly imposible, because
-NO2 are Deactivating Groups for further nitration.


PROPERTIES

  • Velocity of detonation:

  • --- 9,340 m/s measured at density 1.965 {Link without Title}

  • Chapman-Jouget detonation pressure: 43 GPa

  • Crystal Density: 2.01



SEE ALSO



REFERENCES

Heats of Formation and Chemical Compositions

The synthesis and characterisation of halogen and nitro phenyl azide derivatives as highly energetic materials., PhD Thesis, Adam, D; 2001

Accurate determination of pair potentials for a CwHxNyOz system of molecules: A semiempirical method, Thiel et al, 1995

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