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Synthesis of MEAN

MEAN, an acronym for monoethanolamine nitrate, is a high explosive salt of ethanolamine and nitric acid. I have no other information on the chemical, physical, or explosive properties of MEAN. It has been used in compositions with other high explosives and in smokeless propellants as a sensitizer. MEAN is usually used as a precursor to its more explosive cousin ethanolamine dinitrate. MEAN is an example that scientists who coin acronyms sometimes have a sense of humor.


CxHyOz
b.p. ? °C mass ? g/mol
m.p. ? °C CAS# 20748-72-5
den. ? g/mL v.det. ? m/s

2-amino-ethanol nitrate
ethanolamine nitrate salt
ethanolamine nitrate (salt)
ethanolamine-nitric acid salt (1:1)
ethanol, 2-amino-, nitrate (1:1)
ethanol, 2-amino-, nitrate (salt) (8CI,9CI)
ethanolammonium nitrate
2-hydroxyethylammonium nitrate
hydroxyethylammonium nitrate
monoethanolamine nitrate


MEAN

MEAN

Into a beaker containing 100 mL of monoethanolamine cooled to 11 C in an ice bath, slowly add with stirring 204.4 mL of 40% nitric acid.  Add the acid dropwise and maintain the temperature around 10 C.  The acid will be neutralized by the basic ethanolamine.  Heat the solution in an evaporating dish in an oven at 70 C to dry it.  Store the MEAN in a desiccator as it is hygroscopic.

While a good faith effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of all scientific information presented on this page, the possibility exists that some errors have invaded the machine. Furthermore, there may be certain omissions of physical properties, reaction conditions, necessary equipment, storage and handling requirements, and critical safety data. As with any scientific endeavor, especially chemistry, the necessary safety precautions should be observed at all times.

I do not allow errors to persist on my website once they have been discovered, but I need your help to find them. If you observe an error in any procedure, or a critical omission of essential safety precautions, and you have a valid reference that I can independently verify to back up your claim, please contact me via the error reporting form. If there are omissions in this procedure, such as a missing boiling point, density, etc., please contact me if you can fill in the blanks. I am also interested in receiving any alternate methods, or improvements in the procedure to synthesize this compound. If you are interested in submitting your own information please use the user submission area.

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