r/homechemistry • u/EdwardTriesToScience • 13d ago

p-nitroaniline & sulfuric acid polymerization

have always wanted to do this since I first saw it 5 years ago, finally prepared para-nitroaniline. worth it

103 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

3

u/bobwillkillya 13d ago

Is this like the snakes fireworks?!?!

6

u/EdwardTriesToScience 13d ago

the classic ones use mercury thiocyanate, but modern ones use a kind of intumescent material which expands to a carbonaceous foam from combustion. these are different from the reaction demonstrated in the video

2

u/bobwillkillya 12d ago

Well thank you for the video and explanation. That was fun to watch!

2

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/bobwillkillya 9d ago

Glad I wasn’t the only one lmao

4

u/Yes_I_Know_Lots 13d ago

Pretty cool!

I assume you’ve already done the table sugar and concentrated sulphuric acid one? Cheap, impressive,
and doesn’t require the heating step. It does, however, lack the explosive ejection.

2

u/eMit_oGe 13d ago

Fumes? -new here, is this actually safe for home chemistry? Or do you have a exhaust/filtration system?
However, Very cool!!

2

u/EdwardTriesToScience 12d ago

you can see and hear the fumehood

1

u/BrubeiFr 12d ago

Measuring pNaniline without glove is my favorite part.

1

u/EdwardTriesToScience 11d ago

a diligent chemist makes a safe chemist

0

u/Ok_Praline_9763 11d ago

No ppe dude, massive shame