Nitrous decomposition

Johnston H S 1951 Interpretation of the data on the thermal decomposition of nitrous oxide J. Chem. Phys. 19 663-7... 

The solution of the aniline hydrochloride should be cooled to 5°C., and this temperature maintained throughout the addition of the sodium nitrite solution. External cooling has to be maintained, otherwise the heat of the reaction would cause the temperature to rise, with the consequent decomposition of the diazonium chloride and the production of phenol. If, on the other hand, the temperature is reduced to about o , diazotisation becomes extremely slow and unchanged nitrous acid may remain in the solution for an impracticably long time. 

Dissolve 15 ml. (15-4 g.) of aniline in a mixture of 40 ml. of concentrated hydrochloric acid and 40 ml. of water contained in a 250 ml. conical flask. Place a thermometer in the solution, immerse the flask in a mixture of ice and water, and cool until the temperature of the stirred solution reaches 5°. Dissolve I2 5 g. of powdered sodium nitrite in 30 ml. of water, and add this solution in small quantities (about 2-3 ml. at a time) to the cold aniline hydrochloride solution, meanwhile keeping the latter well stirred by means of a thermometer. Heat is evolved by the reaction, and therefore a short interval should be allowed between consecutive additions of the sodium nitrite, partly to allow the temperature to fall again to 5°, and partly to ensure that the nitrous acid formed reacts as completely as possible with the aniline. The temperature must not be allowed to rise above 10°, otherwise appreciable decomposition of the diazonium compound to phenol will occur on the other hand, the temperature... 

The evolution of nitrogen is not always entirely satisfactory as a test owing to the possible evolution of gaseous decomposition products of nitrous acid itself. The test may be performed as follows. To i ml. of chilled concentrated sodium nitrite solution add i ml. of dilute acetic acid. Allow any preliminary evolution of gas to subside, and then add the mixed solution to a cold aqueous solution (or suspension) of the amide note the brisk effervescence. 

Action of nitrous acid. To a few ml. of 20% NaNO, solution add a few drops of cold dil. acetic acid. Pour the mixture into a cold aqueous solution of glycine, and note the brisk evolution of nitrogen. NH CH COOH -h HNO2 = HO CH2COOH + N + H O. Owing to the insolubility of cystine in acetic acid use a suspension in dU. acetic acid for this test. In each case care must be taken not to confuse the evolution of nitrogen with any possible thermal decomposition of the nitrous acid cf. footnote, p, 360). 

It is advisable to add the sodium nitrite solution, particularly in preparations on a larger scale, through a separatory or dropping funnel with the tip of the stem extending well below the sui-face of the liquid tliis will prevent loss of nitrous acid by surface decomposition into oxides of nitrogen. 

Figure 22 5 shows what happens when a typical primary alkylamine reacts with nitrous acid Because nitrogen free products result from the formation and decomposition of diazonium ions these reactions are often referred to as deamination reactions Alkyl... 

Alkaline solutions of mononitroparaffins undergo many different reactions when stored for long periods, acidified, or heated. Acidification of solutions of mononitro salts is best effected slowly at 0°C or lower with weak acids or buffered acidic mixtures, such as acetic acid—urea, carbon dioxide, or hydroxyl ammonium chloride. If mineral acids are used under mild conditions, eg, dilute HCl at 0°C, decomposition yields a carbonyl compound and nitrous oxide (Nef reaction). 

Unpiotonated hydioxylamine is oxidized rapidly by ozone, / = 2.1 X 10 (39). The reaction of ozone with the lower oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO2) is also rapid and quantitative the end product is nitrogen pentoxide, which is also a catalyst for the decomposition of ozone (45). Nitrous oxide, however, reacts slowly (k < 10 ) (39). Nitrogen-containing anions, eg, nitrite and cyanide, also ate oxidized by ozone (39). Nitrite is oxidized to nitrate (fc = 3.7 X 10 and cyanide is oxidized rapidly to cyanate (fc = 2.6 X 10 (46) and 10 -10 (39)). Cyanate, however, is oxidized slowly. 

When the salt is heated to temperatures from 200 to 230°C, exothermic decomposition occurs (4,21). The reaction is rapid, but it can be controlled, and it is the basis for the commercial preparation of nitrous oxide [10024-97-2]. 

Sodium nitrite is stable in alkaline solutions. Acidification liberates nitrous acid which is unstable. The decomposition of nitrous acid yields nitric acid [7697-37-2] HNO, according to the following reaction ... 

Ammonium nitrate decomposes into nitrous oxide and water. In the solid phase, decomposition begins at about I50°C (302°F) but becomes extensive only above the melting point (I70°C) (338°F). The reaction is first-order, with activation energy about 40 kcal/g mol (72,000 Btii/lb mol). Traces of moisture and Cr lower the decomposition temperature thoroughly dried material has been kept at 300°C (572°F). All oxides of nitrogen, as well as oxygen and nitrogen, have been detected in decompositions of nitrates. 

Nitrous oxide may also be obtained by the controlled reduction of nitrates or nitrites, decomposition of hyponitrites, or thermal decomposition of hydroxylamine. 

The decomposition of nitrous oxide (NjO) to nitrogen and oxygen is preformed in a 5.0 1 batch reactor at a constant temperature of 1,015 K, beginning with pure NjO at several initial pressures. The reactor pressure P(t) is monitored, and the times (tj/2) required to achieve 50% conversion of N2O are noted in Table 3-19. Use these results to verify that the N2O decomposition reaction is second order and determine the value of k at T = 1,015 K. 

The decomposition of nitrous oxide (NjO) to nitrogen and oxygen is represented by... 

Nitrous oxide can be made by the careful thermal decomposition of molten NH4NO3 at about 250°C ... 

Sodium azide does not react with carbonyl sulfide to form 5-hydroxy-1,2,3,4-thiatriazole, nor with carboxymethyl xanthates, RO-CS SCH2COOH, to form 5-alkoxy-l,2,3,4-thiatriazoles. The latter, however, could be prepared from xanthogenhydrazides (RO-CS NHNH2) and nitrous acid. They are very unstable and may decompose explosively at room temperature only the ethoxy compound (6) has been examined in detail. This is a solid which decomposes rapidly at room temperature and even at 0°C is transformed after some months into a mixture of sulfur and triethyl isocyanurate. In ethereal solution at 20° C the decomposition takes place according to Eq. (16)... 

PCSs obtained by dehydrochlorination of poly(2-dilorovinyl methyl ketones) catalyze the processes of oxidation and dehydrogenation of alcohols, and the toluene oxidation207. The products of the thermal transformation of PAN are also catalysts for the decomposition of nitrous oxide, for the dehydrogenation of alcohols and cyclohexene274, and for the cis-tnms isomerization of olefins275. Catalytic activity in the decomposition reactions of hydrazine, formic acid, and hydrogen peroxide is also manifested by the products of FVC dehydrochlorination... 

Thermal Decomposition. The therm decompn was studied betw 380 and 430° and found to be homogeneous and apparently 1st order. The products were complex and included nitric oxide, methane, carbon monoxide, and w plus small amts of ethane, ethylene, and nitrous oxide (Ref 23)... 

At fairly high nitrous acid concentrations (0.1 m) and at moderate acidities (4 m) the blue color of N203 (Amax = 625 nm) is easily detected by eye. The overall equilibrium of Scheme 3-10 has been determined. A relatively recent determination of the equilibrium constant gave the value K = 3.0 x 10"3 m (Markovits et al., 1981). Accurate determinations of this constant are difficult, as N203 decomposes easily into NO and N02. Pure N203 is stable only as a pale blue solid or as an intensely blue liquid just above its freezing point (-100°C). The liquid starts to boil with decomposition above -40°C. 

The stratosphere contains, however, only small amounts--a few tenths of a ppb-of chlorine free radicals of natural origin. They are produced by the decomposition of methyl chloride, CH3Q. The nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) are more abundant and are produced in the stratosphere by the decomposition of nitrous oxide, N2O. Both CH3CI and N2O are of biological origin these compounds, released at the Earth s surface, are sufficiently stable to reach the stratosphere in significant amounts. 

One-step hydroxylation of aromatic nucleus with nitrous oxide (N2O) is among recently discovered organic reactions. A high eflSciency of FeZSM-5 zeolites in this reaction relates to a pronounced biomimetic-type activity of iron complexes stabilized in ZSM-5 matrix. N2O decomposition on these complexes produces particular atomic oj gen form (a-oxygen), whose chemistry is similar to that performed by the active oxygen of enzyme monooxygenases. Room temperature oxidation reactions of a-oxygen as well as the data on the kinetic isotope effect and Moessbauer spectroscopy show FeZSM-5 zeolite to be a successfiil biomimetic model. 

Nitrous oxide is unstable because it is an endothermic substance. It gives rise to an explosive decomposition if it is heated. 

---