Talk:Nitromethane

flame

Is it not true that the yellow-white flame seen above the header pipes is actually free hydrogen that has been shorn from the atmospheric water molecules by exposure to the exceedingly high temperature exhaust gases? Is it not also true that nitromethane burns with a greenish-brown flame? DRL - HouTX

Anaerobic combustion

I was under the impression that when organic nitro compounds decomposed, the oxygen would be distributed as follows.

• Carbon to form carbon monoxide
• Hydrogen to form water
• Carbon monoxide to form carbon dioxide

(See Balancing Chemical Explosion Equations) If this is true, all H₂ would need to be oxidized before CO₂ could be formed. The equation for anaerobic combustion should be: 4CH3NO2 → 4CO + 4H2O + 2H2 + 2N2, not 4CH3NO2 → CO2 + 3CO + 3H2O + 3H2 + 2N2.

In response to the above comment, it seems unlikely that atmospheric water would be decomposed. It is more likely that this flame is caused by the combustion of the hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced from incomplete combustion of the nitromethane. --24.16.148.75 23:49, 12 July 2006 (UTC)

Nitromethane sensitization

It sais that nitromethane can be sensitized by adding a base to raise the ph, dose that mean any base?on PLX it has that amine groups weaken the bonds and so make it more sensitive. I know that amine groups are basic but can any base sensitise it in the same way or just amines? Incredibleman007 (talk) 12:50, 18 December 2008 (UTC)

Model fuel

I cleaned up the section on model fuel and added some more details, but I suspect that glow fuel really does deserve it's own wikipedia page. Nitromethane is often a component, but it's not usually the main or most important component, even though it's often just called `nitro'. Perhaps someday I'll write one. dougmc 04:55, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

Distillation

Some more info would be nice regarding distillation of Nitromethane from racing fuel. Given the popularity of the substance in experimental chemistry and the relative danger (formation of azetropes, explosion, etc) of distillation such information might be invaluable and prevent accidental injury.

Microswitch

Please explain

I think this sentence dow not make sense.

Nitromethane is usually used with rich air/fuel mixtures. This is partly because nitromethane can provide power even in the absence of atmospheric oxygen, and also because nitromethane tends to produce severe knock and pre-ignition. Rich mixtures cause ignition problems and a lower combustion speed.

Why are rich mixtures used if they cause ignition problems?

you can detect weak editing when "this" is employed as a subject. I will repair. --Smokefoot (talk) 18:24, 23 December 2007 (UTC)

Top Fuel

Why does the exhaust from a top fuel dragster/funny car burn one's eyes, nose and throat? I have been trying to learn about the chemistry, alas, I am inept. Is it the nitromethane itself since they burn so rich? nitrogen oxides? hydrogen? I noted that the exhaused smelled like fireworks to me. --24.21.133.196 (talk) 00:48, 15 July 2010 (UTC)

Messed up units

As in section: "14.7 lbs. of air is required to burn 1 pound of gasoline, but only 1.7 lb. of air for 1 lb. of nitromethane. Since an engine’s cylinder can only contain a limited amount of air on each stroke, 8.7 times more nitromethane than gasoline can be burned in one stroke. Nitromethane, however, has a lower energy density: Gasoline provides about 42–44 MJ/kg whereas nitromethane provides only 11.3 MJ/kg. This analysis indicates that nitromethane generates about 2.3 times the power of gasoline when combined with a given amount of oxygen." there is a total mixup of units, I would like to think that the wikipedia articles should contain only SI units.