Question

How do you make a nitration mixture?

Answer 1

1. Nitration mixture is prepared in the laboratory by cooling a volume of concentrated sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$, usually in an ice bath.
2. An equal volume of concentrated nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$ is then slowly added to it keeping the solution at a constant temperature.
3. Also called mixed acid, this mixture is highly corrosive and is a major fire hazard. It is unstable and should be produced and stored with extreme care.
4. It is imperative to know that nitration mixtures are used in the nitration of organic substances for example aromatic compounds.
5. This mixture is colourless but is often found to be a yellow-reddish liquid, sometimes with fuming reddish-brown vapours by virtue of nitrogen dioxide $\left({\mathrm{NO}}_2\right)$.
6. It is soluble in water and the dissolution releases large amounts of heat proving that it is highly exothermic.
7. The mixture contains concentrated nitric acid $\left({\mathrm{HNO}}_3\right)$ and sulfuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ , in a $1:1$ ratio.