Hexamine (C6H12N4) is an organic compound that is used in medicine as an antibiotic, and in the oddly far-distant application as a solid fuel for cooking by hikers or campers. Use the link below for more on its chemistry and applications.
Hexamethylenetetramine is a word that contains 22 letters. It is a chemical compound that is used in the production of plastics, pharmaceuticals and rubber products.
The discovery of RDX dates from 1898 when Georg Friedrich Henning obtained a German patent (patent No. 104280) for its manufacture, by nitrating hexamethylenetetramine.[2] In this patent, its properties as an explosive were at length described, as well as its possible use as a medical compound mentioned. Research and development were not published further until G. C. V. Herz obtained a British patent in 1921 and a U.S. patent in 1922, for its manufacture by nitrating hexamethylenetetramine.[2] Later in the 1920s RDX was produced by the direct nitration of hexamine. RDX was used by both sides in World War II.
1. Cannizaro's reaction of HCNO with NaOH 2HCHO + NaOH → CH3OH + HCOONa 2. formation of useful resins when HCHO reacts with certain compounds HCHO + casein -------karolith HCNO + phenol ------- bakelite 3. formation of formose, in sweet lasing syrup and a mixture of sugars, when HCNO reacts with calcium hydroxide 6HCNO → C6H12O6 4. HCNO reacts with ammonia to give hexamethylenetetramine
C-4 (composition 4) is one of the popular plastic explosive(explosive chemical mix with plastic binder). It has two important advantages:The explosive material which coated with plastic binder will make it less sensitive to heat and shock. Since it is stabilized, it is relatively safe to handle C-4. Only detonator or blasting cap can trigger the reaction. Lighting the C-4 with a match will just make it burn slowly, like a piece of wood. (In Vietnam, soldiers actually burn C-4 as an improvised cooking fire.) Even shooting the explosive with rifle won't trigger the reaction.C-4 material is highly flexible. It can be molded into different shapes to change the direction of the explosion.Explosive material in C-4 is cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (royal demolition explosive / RDX). Cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine was first prepared in 1899 from nitric acid and methenamine by Henning. The flow chart below (please refer to reference below) shows the synthesis method uses methenamine (hexamethylenetetramine).Besides the method above, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine can also be synthesized from formaldehyde, ammonium nitrate and acetic anhydride. (Method developed by Ross and Schiessler' in 1940's)Normally, C-4 is made up of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer and, usually, marker or taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) to help detect the explosive and identify its source. In 2004, Kenneth E. Lee discovered a reformulation of composition C-4 explosive for superior energetic performance and flexibility. (US Patent: 6887324)Reference:How C-4 explosive is made. Life Chemistry. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from http://life-chemistry.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-c-4-explosive-is-made.HTMLAnswerRDX is thought to mean "Research Department Compound X." The Research Department was the part of the Ministry of Defence that made new military products, and they numbered the explosives they created. In the case of RDX, they were going to put a number on it later but just never got around to it.
C-4 (composition 4) is one of the popular plastic explosive(explosive chemical mix with plastic binder). It has 2 important advantages:The explosive material which coated with plastic binder will make it less sensitive to heat and shock. Since it is stabilized, it is relatively safe to handle C-4. Only detonator or blasting cap can trigger the reaction. Lighting the C-4 with a match will just make it burn slowly, like a piece of wood. (In Vietnam, soldiers actually burn C-4 as an improvised cooking fire.) Even shooting the explosive with rifle won't trigger the reaction.C-4 material is highly flexible. It can be molded into different shapes to change the direction of the explosion.Explosive material in C-4 is cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (royal demolition explosive / RDX). Cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine was first prepared in 1899 from nitric acid and methenamine by Henning. The flow chart below (Please refer to reference below) shows the synthesis method uses methenamine (hexamethylenetetramine).Besides the method above, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine can also be synthesized from formaldehyde, ammonium nitrate and acetic anhydride. (Method developed by Ross and Schiessler' in 1940's)Normally, C-4 is made up of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer and, usually, marker or taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) to help detect the explosive and identify its source. In 2004, Kenneth E. Lee discovered a reformulation of composition C-4 explosive for superior energetic performance and flexibility. (US Patent: 6887324)Reference:How C4 explosive is made. Life Chemistry. Retrieved June 20, 2008, fromhttp://life-chemistry.blogspot.com/search/label/Explosive
C-4 (composition 4) is one of the popular plastic explosive(explosive chemical mix with plastic binder). It has 2 important advantages:The explosive material which coated with plastic binder will make it less sensitive to heat and shock. Since it is stabilized, it is relatively safe to handle C-4. Only detonator or blasting cap can trigger the reaction. Lighting the C-4 with a match will just make it burn slowly, like a piece of wood. (In Vietnam, soldiers actually burn C-4 as an improvised cooking fire.) Even shooting the explosive with rifle won't trigger the reaction.C-4 material is highly flexible. It can be molded into different shapes to change the direction of the explosion.Explosive material in C-4 is cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine (royal demolition explosive / RDX). Cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine was first prepared in 1899 from nitric acid and methenamine by Henning. The flow chart below (PLease refer to reference below) shows the synthesis method uses methenamine (hexamethylenetetramine).Besides the method above, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine can also be synthesized from formaldehyde, ammonium nitrate and acetic anhydride. (Method developed by Ross and Schiessler' in 1940's)Normally, C-4 is made up of explosives, plastic binder, plasticizer and, usually, marker or taggant chemicals such as 2,3-dimethyl-2,3-dinitrobutane (DMDNB) to help detect the explosive and identify its source. In 2004, Kenneth E. Lee discovered a reformulation of composition C-4 explosive for superior energetic performance and flexibility. (US Patent: 6887324)Reference:How C-4 explosive is made. Life Chemistry. Retrieved June 30, 2008, from http://life-chemistry.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-c-4-explosive-is-made.HTML