Precursors Part 2

charcoal C CAS number 16291-96-6 C

mp ? bp ? d ? m 12.01115 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable

Synonyms: carbon; activated carbon; activated carbon, decolorizing; activated charcoal; animal charcoal; carbon, activated; carbon, activated or decolorizing; carbon, amorphous; carbon black; carbon decolorizing; carboraffin; carborafine; charcoal, activated
Synthesis: Coming soon!

chlorine Cl₂ CAS number 7782-50-5

mp -101.00 bp -34.05 d ? m 70.906 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: chlorinated water; dichlorine; molecular chlorine
Synthesis:    Chlorine gas can be generated in several ways using a wide variety of chemical reagents. The amount of material to use will depend on how much chlorine you need, generating chlorine does not need precise quantities. The reactants are mixed in such a ratio that keeps the gas flowing.
     The most convenient OTC method is the reaction of bleach with Sani-Flush brand toilet bowl cleaner. Technically the reaction is between sodium hypochlorite in the bleach and sodium bisulfate in the Sani-Flush. The advantage of this is that both are available as OTC chemicals from the supermarket. Add a quantity of Sani-Flush to a large Erlenmeyer flask. A one-holed stopper with a length of glass tubing connected to a rubber hose is used to direct the gas. Pour a small amount of bleach over the Sani-Flush and quickly stopper the flask. The reaction will quickly generate chlorine in a vigorous reaction. The reaction will soon subside, shake the flask periodically to stimulate the reaction. When shaking is no longer effective, add more bleach to start the process again. When adding more bleach is no longer effective, add additional Sani-Flush. Continuing in this manner will generate a large amount of chlorine. The most efficient way is to fill the flask one third of the way with Sani-Flush and add the bleach dropwise with an addition funnel. When enough bleach has been added to create a solution, a magnetic stirrer is used to provide agitation. This method will provide a constant flow of gas.
     A second method of generating chlorine gas is to fill a flask one third of the way with small pieces of manganese dioxide. To this is added concentrated hydrochloric acid in sufficient quantity to cover the solid. On heating, a regular current of chlorine is generated.
     Alternately, chlorine can be generated by adding 1 L of hydrochloric acid to 180-200 g of powdered potassium dichromate and heating on a water bath.
     Chlorine gas must be dried in some preparations. By passing the gas through a wash bottle filled with water, any excess hydrochloric acid will be removed (if hydrochloric acid is used to prepare the gas). A second wash bottle filled with concentrated sulfuric acid will remove traces of moisture; the presence of water is harmful for most uses of chlorine here.

chloroacetic acid ClCH₂COOH CAS number 79-11-8

mp 61-63 bp 189 d 1.580 m 94.50 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive, Toxic

Synonyms: alpha-chloroacetic acid; chloroethanoic acid; MCA; monochloroacetic acid; monochloroethanoic acid
Synthesis:    Prepare a mixture of 12 g of red phosphorus and 143 mL of glacial acetic acid in a 250-mL Florence flask. Connect a Clasien adapter to the flask; attach a reflux condenser to the angled arm, and a thermometer adapter to the straight arm. Instead of using a thermometer in the adapter, place a piece of glass tubing that extends to the bottom of the liquid. This is an addition tube for chlorine gas, using a bubbler on the end of the tube can improve the reaction.
     Locate the apparatus in a location that it can receive as much sunlight as possible, even to the point of positioning mirrors to get more sunlight. The sunlight is very important as the light provides the photochemical energy necessary for this reaction to succeed. Ordinary lamp light will not work, nor will this reaction be very effective during the winter months. The best time is midday during summer. With adequate sunlight the reaction will require as little as 12 hours (essentially all day while there is light) and in winter it will require two or more days (stopping for the night). The longer it takes, the more chlorine that will be wasted.
     While heating the flask on a vigorously boiling water bath, pass a current of dry chlorine gas into the acetic acid. The completion of the reaction can be determined by taking a small sample into a test tube and cooling it in an ice-water bath. If the sample solidifies after rubbing the walls of the test tube with a glass stirring rod, it is done. After the reaction is complete, set the flask up for simple distillation. Distill the contents, collecting the portion that distill over from 150 to 200 °C in a beaker. Cool the beaker in a salt-ice bath, rub the walls with a glass stirring rod. The portion that solidifies, consisting of pure chloroacetic acid, is rapidly suction filtered, the loose crystals are to be pressed together with a spatula or spoon to squeeze out excess liquid. The suction must not be continued too long because the chloroacetic acid gradually becomes liquid in warm air. The filtrate is again distilled, but this time the portion distilling over from 170 to 200 °C is collected in a beaker. A second portion of chloroacetic acid is obtained by cooling and filtering as before. The two crystalline portions are combined, and then distilled to obtain perfectly pure chloroacetic acid; yield can vary from 80-125 g.
     Although this reaction primarily synthesizes chloroacetic acid, some amounts of dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid will also be made. These can be obtained from the filtrate and what does not boil over during the distillations. By continuing the reaction beyond what is necessary to make chloroacetic acid, you will eventually end up with mostly trichloroacetic acid. This will take several extra days though. The rate of the reaction can be facilitated by the addition of a small quantity of iodine to the acetic acid and phosphorus. This will cause some amount of contamination (iodoacetic and chloroiodoacetic acids), but a greater yield will be achieved in less time.
     It is possible to substitute sulfur for red phosphorus in this reaction, which is much more readily available, but it is not as efficient as phosphorus . It is also possible to conduct this reaction using bromine instead of chlorine; bromoacetic acid is thus obtained. Getting iodine products is only possible by treating the corresponding bromo or chloro compounds with potassium iodide. Furthermore, other carboxylic acids can be used instead of acetic acid, as long as it has an alpha hydrogen (a hydrogen atom on the carbon that is bonded to the carboxylic functional group).

chlorobenzene C₆H₅Cl CAS number 108-90-7

mp -45 bp 131-132 d 1.107 m 112.56 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable

Synonyms: benzene chloride; chlorobenzene mono; chlorobenzol; MCB; monochlorobenzene; monochlorobenzol; phenyl chloride
Synthesis: Nothing yet

chloroform CHCl₃ CAS number 67-66-3

mp -63.5 bp 61-62 d 1.484 m 119.38 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: trichloromethane; formyl trichloride; methane trichloride; methenyl trichloride; methyl trichloride; R 20 (refrigerant); refrigerant R20; trichloroform
Synthesis: Coming soon!

citric acid C₆H₈O₇ CAS number 77-92-9

mp 153 bp ? d 1.665 m 192.13 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid; aciletten; citretten; Citro; hydrocerol a; hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid; hydroxytricarballylic acid; 2-hydroxytricarballylic acid; beta-hydroxytricarballylic acid
Synthesis: Coming soon!

copper Cu CAS number 7440-50-8 Cu

mp 1083 bp 2595 d 8.94 m 63.546 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: ANAC 110; arwood copper; CDA 102; CDA 122; C.I. 77400; CuTEA; cutrine-plus; komeen; pigment metal 2; Raney copper
Synthesis: Coming soon!

m-cresol C₇H₈O CAS number 108-39-4

mp 11-12 bp 202 d 1.034 m 108.14 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive, Toxic

Synonyms: 3-methylphenol; cresol; cresylic acid; cresylol; tricresol
Synthesis:    Prepare a solution of 5.4 g of m-tolylboronic acid and 100 mL of ethyl ether in a 250-mL round-bottomed flask. Drop in a magnetic stir bar and attach an addition funnel to the flask. While stirring, add 30 mL of 10% hydrogen peroxide from the funnel over a period of 5 minutes. The reaction will generate heat as the reaction commences. After all of the peroxide has been added, continue stirring until the contents of the flask have cooled to room temperature. This will require about 20 to 30 minutes.
     After cooling, transfer the contents to a separatory funnel. Drain off the lower aqueous layer and discard it. Wash the remaining ether layer by shaking with three 30 mL portions of 10% ammonium ferrous sulfate solution. This removes any remaining peroxide. Again discard the lower aqueous layers. Next, extract the product from the ether by shaking with three 30 mL portions of 10% sodium hydroxide solution. This time keep and combine the aqueous extracts, discard the ether layer. Acidify this solution by adding an excess of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and then extract the product by shaking with three 70 mL portions of ether.
     Dry the combined ether extracts by adding several grams of calcium sulfate, shake for a minute, and then filter to remove the sulfate. Remove the ether by allowing it to evaporate. Finally, distill the crude product to collect pure m-cresol. The yield is 58% or about 2.5 g.

cupric sulfate CuSO₄ CAS number 7758-98-7

mp 560 (dec) bp - d 3.6 m 159.61 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: bluestone; blue vitrol; chalcanthite; copper sulfate; dried cupric sulfate; hydrocyanite; Roman vitrol; Salzburg vitrol
Synthesis: Coming soon!

dextrin (C₆H₁₀O₅)_n+ xH₂O CAS number 9004-53-9

mp - bp - d ? m - c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: British gum; canary dextrin; corn dextrin; dextrin hydrate, white; pyrodextrin; starch gum; torrefaction dextrin; white dextrin; yellow dextrin
Synthesis: Coming soon!

2,3-diazido-1,4-butanediol X_aY_bZ_c CAS number 131063-52-0

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

3,3-diazido-2,4-pentanediol X_aY_bZ_c CAS number ?

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

1,3-dichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene X_aY_bZ_c CAS number 1630-09-7

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

dicyanodiamide C₂H₄N₄ CAS number 461-58-5

mp 209.5 bp ? d 1.400 m 84.08 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: cyanoguanidine; 1-cyanoguanidine; 2-cyanoguanidine; DCD; dicyandiamide
Synthesis: Nothing yet

N,N-dimethylaniline C₈H₁₁N CAS number 121-69-7

mp 2 bp 192-194 d 0.956 m 121.18 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: N,N-dimethylbenzenamine; (dimethylamino)benzene; dimethylaniline; dimethylphenylamine; N,N-dimethylphenylamine; dimethylphylamine; DMA; Versneller NL 63/10
Synthesis: Nothing yet

N,N-dimethylformamide HCON(CH₃)₂ CAS number 68-12-2

mp -61 bp 153 d 0.9445 m 73.09 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable, Toxic

Synonyms: DMF; DMFA
Synthesis: Nothing yet

2,4-dinitrophenetole X_aY_bZ_c CAS number 610-54-8

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ß-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy) ethanol (NO₂)₂C₆H₃OCH₂CH₂OH CAS number 2831-60-9

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: dinitrophenylglycolether nitrate; glycoldinitrophenylether nitrate
Synthesis: I know very little about this compound, it is an explosive, but the synthesis details are too sketchy for inclusion in its own page.
It can be prepared from dichlorobenzene and ethylene glycol, followed by nitration of the resulting glycol monophenyl ether.

dioxane C₄H₈O₂ CAS number 123-91-1

mp 11.80 bp 101.1 d 1.0329 m 88.11 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: diethylene dioxide; 1,4-diethylene dioxide; diethylene ether; diethylene oxide; 1,4-diethyleneoxide; diokan; Diox; 1,4-dioxacyclohexane; 1,4-dioxane; p-dioxane; dioxyethylene ether; ethylene glycol ethylene ether; glycol ethylene ether; tetrahydro-1,4-dioxin; tetrahydro-p-dioxin
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethyl acetate CH₃COOC₂H₅ CAS number 141-78-6

mp -83 bp 77 d 0.898 m 88.11 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable

Synonyms: acetic acid ethyl ester; acetic ester; acetic ether; acetidin; acetoxyethane; ethyl acetic ester; vinegar naphtha
Synthesis:    Prepare a mixture of 50 mL of ethyl alcohol and 50 mL of 98-100% sulfuric acid in a round-bottomed 500-mL Florence flask. Set the flask up for simple distillation with addition. Heat the mixture with an oil bath, when the temperature of the oil reaches 140 °C slowly add a mixture of 400 mL of ethyl alcohol and 400 mL of glacial acetic acid through the addition funnel. Control the addition of the acid mix to correspond to the rate at which the product distills over.
     Once the reaction has been completed, transfer the distillate to a beaker. Treat the distillate with a dilute solution of sodium carbonate to neutralize any acetic acid that has passed over. Test the pH of the upper layer; it should be basic. Transfer the neutralized distillate to a separatory funnel, and drain off the lower layer. Filter the remaining layer to remove any contaminants, and then pour the solution back into the separatory funnel.
     Prepare a solution of 100 g of calcium chloride in 100 mL of water. Add this solution to the separatory funnel to remove any excess alcohol, shake the funnel well. The calcium chloride can also be added in portions if desired, drain off the lower each time. After shaking, dry the upper layer by transferring it to a small Erlenmeyer flask with a layer of granular calcium chloride in the bottom. Filter the dried product to remove the calcium chloride, transfer the filtrate to a Florence flask, and then simple distill to collect pure ethyl acetate. Yield can be as high as 90%.

ethyl alcohol C₂H₅OH CAS number 64-17-5

mp 114.1 bp 78.5 d 0.789 m 46.07 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: ethanol; absolute alcohol; alcohol; alcohol dehydrated; algrain; anhydrol; anhydrous alcohol; booze; cologne spirits; dehydrated alcohol; denatured alcohol; ethanol 200 proof; ethyl hydrate; ethyl hydroxide; fermentation alcohol; grain alcohol; hooch; jaysol; jaysol s; liqueur; methylcarbinol; molasses alcohol; moon shine; potato alcohol; sd alcohol 23-hydrogen; spirits; spirits of wine; Synasol; tecsol
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethyl chloride C₂H₅Cl CAS number 75-00-3

mp -138.7 bp 12.3 d 0.9214 m 64.51 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: chloroethane; aethylis; aethylis chloridum; Anodynon; Chelen; chlorene; chlorethyl; chloridum; chloryl; Chloryl Anesthetic; cloretilo; dublofix; ether chloratus; ether hydrochloric; ether muriatic; hydrochloric ether; Kelene; monochloroethane; muriatic ether; Narcotile
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethylene dichloride ClCH₂CH₂Cl CAS number 107-06-2

mp -40 bp 83-84 d 1.2569 m 98.96 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable, Toxic

Synonyms: 1,2-dichloroethane; Brocide; sym-dichloroethane; Dutch liquid; EDC; ethylene chloride
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethylene glycol HOCH₂CH₂OH CAS number 107-21-1

mp -13 bp 197.6 d 1.1135 m 62.07 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: 1,2-ethanediol; 1,2-dihydroxyethane; Dowtherm 4000; Dowtherm SR 1; EG; ethane-1,2-diol; ethylene alcohol; ethylene dihydrate; Fridex; glycol; glycol alcohol; lutrol-9; macrogol 400 bpc; M.E.G.; monoethylene glycol; norkool; tescol; ucar 17
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethyl ether C₂H₅OC₂H₅ CAS number 60-29-7

mp -116.3 bp 34.6 d 0.7134 m 74.12 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable

Synonyms: 1,1'-oxybisethane; anesthetic ether; diethyl oxide; diethyl ether; ether; ethoxyethane; ethyl oxide; pronarcol; sulfuric ether
Ether is a very useful organic solvent that has fallen into ill repute because of its use by drug dealers. It is a watched chemical by the DEA, purchasing large quantities will put you on The List. Ether is an explosively flammable liquid that will easily fill a room with fumes just waiting to be ignited by the slightest heat, it ignites over 180 °C. Keep containers of ether tightly closed and away from all flame sources. Ether used to be an anesthetic back in the days, inhaling the fumes will cause unconsciousness, but not much damage if you get to fresh air. Ether can also form an explosive peroxide if it is old or exposed to air. In short, keep ether away from all flame, in a well ventilated area, and tightly sealed in its container. You might think that ether and water do not mix, wrong, ether can hold up to 1.2% water. The only OTC source of ether is in starting fluid for cars, among other contaminants, from which it can be distilled. Ether can easily be prepared by reacting ethyl alcohol with sulfuric acid.
Synthesis: Assemble the necessary equipment for fractional distillation, adding in a Clasien adapter. Place the fractionating column on the side arm of the Clasien, and a 2-holed rubber stopper in the straight arm. In the first hole, place a thermometer that extends to near the bottom of the reaction flask. In the second hole, place a length of glass tubing that extends to near the bottom and sticks up about an inch. Place a short length of rubber tubing on the glass tubing and connect it to an addition funnel. The rubber tubing is to slightly offset the funnel which would get in the way of the thermometer. If using a 500-mL reaction flask, add 146 mL of anhydrous ethyl alcohol. You can use 95% alcohol but the efficiency of the reaction will suffer because of the water. Slowly add 133 mL of anhydrous sulfuric acid, again you can use less than 100%, but the more water there is the worse the reaction will proceed. Place a magnetic spin bar in the flask and connect it to the rest of the apparatus. Using a hotplate or oil bath, no flame, heat the reaction flask, while stirring, to between 130-140 °C and hold it at that temperature. Be sure not to go in excess of 150 °C as ethylene gas will be produced. Once some distillate starts to come over, slowly add an additional 146 mL of ethyl alcohol from the addition funnel at the same rate as is collected from the distillation. That should be about a drop or two a second. The total distillation time should be over 2 hours. After the distillation is over, pour the distillate from the receiver flask to a large beaker and add 10% sodium hydroxide solution until the pH is neutral. Pour this mixture into a seperatory funnel and allow the lighter ether layer to float on top. Remove the heavier water layer and wash the remaining ether by shaking twice with a volume of saturated salt water equal to the volume of ether. Allow the last wash to sit for several minutes to insure complete seperation then remove the water layer. Put the ether in a Florence flask and add 15 g of calcium chloride for every 100 mL of ether, stir this for 2 hours with a magnetic stirrer. Finally, do a simple distillation to remove the now anhydrous ether from the calcium chloride.

formaldehyde HCHO CAS number 50-00-0

mp -92 bp -19.5 d 1.067 m 30.03 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable, Toxic

Synonyms: BFV; fannoform; formaldehyde solution; Formalin; Formalin 40; formalith; formic aldehyde; Formol; FYDE; HCHO; HOCH; karsan; lysoform; Methan 21; methanal; methyl aldehyde; methylene glycol; methylene oxide; Morbicid; oxomethane; oxomethylene; oxymethylene; superlysoform; Veracur
Synthesis:    Formaldehyde can be obtained at Wal-Mart stores in a variety of products called Campa Chem for use in recreational vehicle sewage treatment (in the automotive section). There is one brand that is solid granules, get that, not the solution. The actual chemical is paraformaldehyde, the polymerized form of formaldehyde, but formaldehyde can be obtained from this.
     Campa Chem paraformaldehyde is dyed blue for some reason with an unknown chemical. As this may or may not affect some chemical reactions it is best to remove it. One of the simplest ways is to extract the dye with numerous small portions of alcohol. Empty the packets (a box comes with ten 2 oz packets) in a beaker and add 40 mL of ethyl or methyl alcohol per packet to wet the powder. Two packets for example will require about 1 L of ethyl alcohol to extract most of the blue dye. You should add only 20-25 mL at a time, stir, and pour off the alcohol.
     You may lose a little of the paraformaldehyde when you decant off the alcohol, so a filter may help. With each successive extraction more of the dye will be removed. The dark blue alcohol extract can be simple distilled to recover pure alcohol. The resulting paraformaldehyde granules may still have a slight blue tint, but significant quantities of the dye will be gone.
     To obtain a formaldehyde solution add 100 g of paraformaldehyde granules to a bottle and dilute with enough water to make 250 mL of solution. Add a small amount of sodium hydroxide, approximately 120 mg, to the solution. Cap the bottle and shake to dissolve some of the paraformaldehyde. Place the bottle into a hot water bath heated to 60 degrees C for 25-30 minutes. Every 5 minutes shake the bottle and open it to vent any gasses. Some of the paraformaldehyde may not have dissolved, it can be filtered off, or heat the bottle longer. The resulting formaldehyde solution should be about 40% and will remain fresh for a few days if refrigerated.
Not everyone may be able to get to Wal-Mart, so here is a synthesis of formaldehyde from scratch:
     The side tube (length about 10 cm) of a distilling flask (capacity 250-mL) is bent upwards at the junction with the neck of the flask. The end of the side tube, drawn out into a capillary (internal diameter 1.0-1.5 mm), is then inserted through a cork into a piece of combustion tubing about 30 cm long (fig 53). Within the tubing and about 6 cm from the point of the capillary is a copper spiral 4 cm long. The tubing slopes upwards at a small angle and its upper end is connected with a vertical condenser, preferably of the coil type. To the lower end of the condenser there are attached two communicating receivers which, during the experiment, are almost completely immersed in a freezing mixture. The short side tube of the second receiver is connected to an air pump (like a fish tank pump). Into the distilling flask, which is lowered as deeply as possible into a water bath kept exactly at 46-47 degrees C, 100 mL of methyl alcohol are poured. The flask is then closed with a rubber stopper, through which is inserted a glass tube reaching nearly to the bottom. Through this tube air is drawn in, and when the air is passing, the copper spiral is warmed in the flame, cautiously at first, until, when red heat is reached, the reaction sets in.
     The air current must now be so regulated that the spiral continues to glow quite feebly without further application of heat. If the experiment is carried out in this way there will be complete freedom from explosions. The region within which methyl alcohol-air mixtures explode is indeed reached when the temperature of the bath is too low (42-44 degrees C), but the flame strikes back no further than the capillary tube, since the rapid current in the latter prevents further striking back. This is why it is very important to keep the water bath at 46-47 degrees C.
     The two receivers contain 110-115 mL of a 30-32% formaldehyde solution after all the methyl alcohol has been evaporated. A further small quantity of formaldehyde may still be collected in a third receiver containing a little water.
The following paragraph contains some points which should be considered in carrying out gaseous reactions.
     In order to dehydrogenate one mole of methyl alcohol 0.5 mole of oxygen is required, and hence for one volume of the alcohol half as much oxygen or two and a half times as much air. The stoicheiometrical must therefore contain methyl alcohol and air in the proportions (by volume) 1 : 2.5, ie. 28.5% of methyl alcohol. Since the volumes vary as the partial pressures the temp of evaporation (of the alcohol) must be so chosen that its vapor pressure shall be 28.5% of the atmospheric pressure, ie. About 210 mm of mercury. With the simple type of apparatus here described complete saturation of the air with methyl alcohol vapor is not reached, and hence a temperature somewhat higher than the theoretical is used.

formamide HCONH₂ CAS number 75-12-7

mp 2.55 bp 210.5 d 1.13340 m 45.04 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: carbamaldehyde; formimidic acid; methanamide
Synthesis: Nothing yet

formic acid HCOOH CAS number 64-18-6

mp 8.4 bp 100.8 d 1.220 m 46.03 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive

Synonyms: ameisensäure; aminic acid; formylic acid; hydrogencarboxylic acid; methanoic acid
Synthesis: Nothing yet

gasoline mixture CAS number 86290-81-5 No
Graphic

mp ? bp 32-210 d ? m - c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable

Synonyms: Benzin; gas; gasahol; gasolene; light gasoline; motor fuel; motor spirits; natural gasoline; petrol; premium; super; unleaded
Synthesis: Coming soon!

glycerol CH₂OHCHOHCH₂OH CAS number 56-81-5

mp 17.8 bp 290 (dec) d 1.26362 m 92.09 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: 1,2,3-propanetriol; Bulbold; Cristal; Glyceol; glycerin; glycerine; glycerin mist; glyceritol; D-glycerol; L-glycerol; glycyl alcohol; IFP; incorporation factor; Ophthalgan; polyhydric alcohols; propanetriol; trihydroxypropane; 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane
Synthesis: Coming soon!

HBIW X_aY_bZ_c CAS number 124782-15-6

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

n-hexane CH₃(CH₂)₄CH₃ CAS number 110-54-3

mp -100 bp 69 d 0.660 m 86.18 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Flammable

Synonyms: dipropyl; gettysolve-b; Hex; hexane; hexyl hydride; normal hexane; skellysolve B
Synthesis: Nothing yet

hydrazine H₂NNH₂ CAS number 302-01-2

mp 2 bp 113.5 d 1.0036 m 32.05 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDSCorrosive, Toxic

Synonyms: anhydrous hydrazine; diamide; diamine; hydrazine base; hydrazine, hydrazine sulfate
Synthesis:    Prepare a solution of 1500 mL of 28-29% ammonium hydroxide, 900 mL of water, 375 mL of 10% gelatin solution, and 1200 mL of normal sodium hypochlorite solution. It is absolutely imperative to use distilled water, the presence of any contaminant ions will screw up this reaction! It is possible to use starch, glue, or glycerol instead of gelatin, but they are inferior. Mix these chemicals in a large glass dish, like a pie plate or bowl, or just use several portions, as this is nearly a gallon of liquid. This mixture is heated as rapidly as possible and boiled down to one-third of its original volume. The solution is then cooled thoroughly with ice and suction filtered twice to remove any impurities. When filtering, first use towels (like a washcloth), then use regular filter paper on top of some cloth (like from a T-shirt).
     The resulting liquid is dilute hydrazine hydrate. To make concentrated hydrazine hydrate, mix 144 mL of dilute hydrazine with 230 mL of xylene in a round-bottomed 500-mL Florence flask. Fractionally distill the mixture in an atmosphere of nitrogen, the xylene will first pass over with most of the water, then the hydrazine will pass over. Keep the fractions separate of course. The resulting hydrazine hydrate will be 90-95% hydrazine. This concentration procedure is meant for 60% hydrazine hydrate, since the hydrazine hydrate prepared above may be greater or less than 60%, some experimentation may be needed to find the proper amount of xylene to use (more xylene is needed for dilute hydrazine, less for more concentrated hydrazine).
     To obtain anhydrous hydrazine, mix 20 g of potassium hydroxide per 100 g of >90% hydrazine hydrate in a beaker, let this mixture stand overnight so much of the water can be withdrawn. After standing, filter the solution to remove the hydroxide. Add to the filtered liquid an equal amount by weight of sodium hydroxide. Place this mixture in a round-bottomed 500-mL Florence flask, reflux for 2 hours, then distill in a slow stream of nitrogen. You must use nitrogen, distillation in air may lead to an explosion!

hydrochloric acid HCl CAS number 7647-01-0

mp -46.2 bp 108.58 d 1.15 m - c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive

Synonyms: chlorohydric acid; hydrochloride; hydrogen chloride; muriatic acid; spirits of salts
Hydrochloric acid is actually a mixture of hydrogen chloride gas in water, not a single compound. The physical data provided here is for 30% hydrochloric acid, the most common varity. The maximum concentration of acid is about 40%.
Synthesis:    Adding concentrated sulfuric acid to large chunks of ammonium chloride can generate hydrochloric acid (actually hydrogen chloride gas). The sulfuric acid is slowly added to the ammonium chloride kept inside a bottle. The bottle is sealed with a 2-holed stopper, in one hole goes an addition funnel where the sulfuric acid is added, and in the other goes a short length of glass tube bent at a right angle. The angled tube is the outlet tube for the hydrochloric acid, it can be connected to whatever experiment is needed, or bubbled into water to collect the acid for later use. Be careful not to allow acid gas to escape through the addition funnel, either use a stopcock, or keep the stem below the surface of the liquid.
     If anhydrous hydrogen chloride gas is required, using a similar glassware setup as above, add hydrochloric acid very slowly through the addition funnel into concentrated sulfuric acid. The hydrochloric acid gas that evolves is dried by bubbling it through a safety wash bottle filled with concentrated sulfuric acid. To set up a safety wash bottle, affix a 2-hole stopper to a top of a bottle, in one hole goes a short length of glass tube bent at a right angle; this is the outlet tube. In the other hole, place a wide diameter glass tube that extends just below the surface of the sulfuric acid. Place a second small diameter glass tube inside the wide tube. This tube should nearly reach the bottom of the bottle, it should also be bent at a right angle at the top to keep it from falling in. This is the inlet tube for the acid to be washed. See the illustration. This setup is necessary to prevent the acid wash from being sucked back into the generator.
     Hydrochloric acid can also be generated by heating 10 parts of sodium chloride with a cold mixture of 3 parts of water and 18 parts of sulfuric acid.

hydrogen H₂ CAS number 1333-74-0

mp -259.2 bp 252.77 d 0.0700 m 2.0158 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms: protium
Synthesis: Coming soon!

hydrogen peroxide H₂O₂ CAS number 7722-84-1

mp -0.43 bp 152 d 1.463 m 34.01 c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive

Synonyms: Albone; dihydrogen dioxide; high-strength hydrogen peroxide; Hioxy; H2O2; hydrogen dioxide; hydroperoxide; Inhibine; Lensan A; Mirasept; Oxydol; Oxysept; Pegasyl; Perhydrol; Peroxan; peroxide; superoxol; t-stuff
Synthesis: Coming soon!

hydroquinone X_aY_bZ_c CAS number 123-31-9

mp ? bp ? d ? m ? c $?.??

Safety Data: MSDS

Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

charcoal			C	CAS number 16291-96-6	C
mp ?	bp ?	d ?	m 12.01115	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable
Synonyms: carbon; activated carbon; activated carbon, decolorizing; activated charcoal; animal charcoal; carbon, activated; carbon, activated or decolorizing; carbon, amorphous; carbon black; carbon decolorizing; carboraffin; carborafine; charcoal, activated
Synthesis: Coming soon!

chlorine			Cl₂	CAS number 7782-50-5
mp -101.00	bp -34.05	d ?	m 70.906	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: chlorinated water; dichlorine; molecular chlorine
Synthesis: Chlorine gas can be generated in several ways using a wide variety of chemical reagents. The amount of material to use will depend on how much chlorine you need, generating chlorine does not need precise quantities. The reactants are mixed in such a ratio that keeps the gas flowing. The most convenient OTC method is the reaction of bleach with Sani-Flush brand toilet bowl cleaner. Technically the reaction is between sodium hypochlorite in the bleach and sodium bisulfate in the Sani-Flush. The advantage of this is that both are available as OTC chemicals from the supermarket. Add a quantity of Sani-Flush to a large Erlenmeyer flask. A one-holed stopper with a length of glass tubing connected to a rubber hose is used to direct the gas. Pour a small amount of bleach over the Sani-Flush and quickly stopper the flask. The reaction will quickly generate chlorine in a vigorous reaction. The reaction will soon subside, shake the flask periodically to stimulate the reaction. When shaking is no longer effective, add more bleach to start the process again. When adding more bleach is no longer effective, add additional Sani-Flush. Continuing in this manner will generate a large amount of chlorine. The most efficient way is to fill the flask one third of the way with Sani-Flush and add the bleach dropwise with an addition funnel. When enough bleach has been added to create a solution, a magnetic stirrer is used to provide agitation. This method will provide a constant flow of gas. A second method of generating chlorine gas is to fill a flask one third of the way with small pieces of manganese dioxide. To this is added concentrated hydrochloric acid in sufficient quantity to cover the solid. On heating, a regular current of chlorine is generated. Alternately, chlorine can be generated by adding 1 L of hydrochloric acid to 180-200 g of powdered potassium dichromate and heating on a water bath. Chlorine gas must be dried in some preparations. By passing the gas through a wash bottle filled with water, any excess hydrochloric acid will be removed (if hydrochloric acid is used to prepare the gas). A second wash bottle filled with concentrated sulfuric acid will remove traces of moisture; the presence of water is harmful for most uses of chlorine here.

chloroacetic acid			ClCH₂COOH	CAS number 79-11-8
mp 61-63	bp 189	d 1.580	m 94.50	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive, Toxic
Synonyms: alpha-chloroacetic acid; chloroethanoic acid; MCA; monochloroacetic acid; monochloroethanoic acid
Synthesis: Prepare a mixture of 12 g of red phosphorus and 143 mL of glacial acetic acid in a 250-mL Florence flask. Connect a Clasien adapter to the flask; attach a reflux condenser to the angled arm, and a thermometer adapter to the straight arm. Instead of using a thermometer in the adapter, place a piece of glass tubing that extends to the bottom of the liquid. This is an addition tube for chlorine gas, using a bubbler on the end of the tube can improve the reaction. Locate the apparatus in a location that it can receive as much sunlight as possible, even to the point of positioning mirrors to get more sunlight. The sunlight is very important as the light provides the photochemical energy necessary for this reaction to succeed. Ordinary lamp light will not work, nor will this reaction be very effective during the winter months. The best time is midday during summer. With adequate sunlight the reaction will require as little as 12 hours (essentially all day while there is light) and in winter it will require two or more days (stopping for the night). The longer it takes, the more chlorine that will be wasted. While heating the flask on a vigorously boiling water bath, pass a current of dry chlorine gas into the acetic acid. The completion of the reaction can be determined by taking a small sample into a test tube and cooling it in an ice-water bath. If the sample solidifies after rubbing the walls of the test tube with a glass stirring rod, it is done. After the reaction is complete, set the flask up for simple distillation. Distill the contents, collecting the portion that distill over from 150 to 200 °C in a beaker. Cool the beaker in a salt-ice bath, rub the walls with a glass stirring rod. The portion that solidifies, consisting of pure chloroacetic acid, is rapidly suction filtered, the loose crystals are to be pressed together with a spatula or spoon to squeeze out excess liquid. The suction must not be continued too long because the chloroacetic acid gradually becomes liquid in warm air. The filtrate is again distilled, but this time the portion distilling over from 170 to 200 °C is collected in a beaker. A second portion of chloroacetic acid is obtained by cooling and filtering as before. The two crystalline portions are combined, and then distilled to obtain perfectly pure chloroacetic acid; yield can vary from 80-125 g. Although this reaction primarily synthesizes chloroacetic acid, some amounts of dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid will also be made. These can be obtained from the filtrate and what does not boil over during the distillations. By continuing the reaction beyond what is necessary to make chloroacetic acid, you will eventually end up with mostly trichloroacetic acid. This will take several extra days though. The rate of the reaction can be facilitated by the addition of a small quantity of iodine to the acetic acid and phosphorus. This will cause some amount of contamination (iodoacetic and chloroiodoacetic acids), but a greater yield will be achieved in less time. It is possible to substitute sulfur for red phosphorus in this reaction, which is much more readily available, but it is not as efficient as phosphorus . It is also possible to conduct this reaction using bromine instead of chlorine; bromoacetic acid is thus obtained. Getting iodine products is only possible by treating the corresponding bromo or chloro compounds with potassium iodide. Furthermore, other carboxylic acids can be used instead of acetic acid, as long as it has an alpha hydrogen (a hydrogen atom on the carbon that is bonded to the carboxylic functional group).

chlorobenzene			C₆H₅Cl	CAS number 108-90-7
mp -45	bp 131-132	d 1.107	m 112.56	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable
Synonyms: benzene chloride; chlorobenzene mono; chlorobenzol; MCB; monochlorobenzene; monochlorobenzol; phenyl chloride
Synthesis: Nothing yet

chloroform			CHCl₃	CAS number 67-66-3
mp -63.5	bp 61-62	d 1.484	m 119.38	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: trichloromethane; formyl trichloride; methane trichloride; methenyl trichloride; methyl trichloride; R 20 (refrigerant); refrigerant R20; trichloroform
Synthesis: Coming soon!

citric acid			C₆H₈O₇	CAS number 77-92-9
mp 153	bp ?	d 1.665	m 192.13	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: 2-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid; aciletten; citretten; Citro; hydrocerol a; hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetricarboxylic acid; hydroxytricarballylic acid; 2-hydroxytricarballylic acid; beta-hydroxytricarballylic acid
Synthesis: Coming soon!

copper			Cu	CAS number 7440-50-8	Cu
mp 1083	bp 2595	d 8.94	m 63.546	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: ANAC 110; arwood copper; CDA 102; CDA 122; C.I. 77400; CuTEA; cutrine-plus; komeen; pigment metal 2; Raney copper
Synthesis: Coming soon!

m-cresol			C₇H₈O	CAS number 108-39-4
mp 11-12	bp 202	d 1.034	m 108.14	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive, Toxic
Synonyms: 3-methylphenol; cresol; cresylic acid; cresylol; tricresol
Synthesis: Prepare a solution of 5.4 g of m-tolylboronic acid and 100 mL of ethyl ether in a 250-mL round-bottomed flask. Drop in a magnetic stir bar and attach an addition funnel to the flask. While stirring, add 30 mL of 10% hydrogen peroxide from the funnel over a period of 5 minutes. The reaction will generate heat as the reaction commences. After all of the peroxide has been added, continue stirring until the contents of the flask have cooled to room temperature. This will require about 20 to 30 minutes. After cooling, transfer the contents to a separatory funnel. Drain off the lower aqueous layer and discard it. Wash the remaining ether layer by shaking with three 30 mL portions of 10% ammonium ferrous sulfate solution. This removes any remaining peroxide. Again discard the lower aqueous layers. Next, extract the product from the ether by shaking with three 30 mL portions of 10% sodium hydroxide solution. This time keep and combine the aqueous extracts, discard the ether layer. Acidify this solution by adding an excess of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and then extract the product by shaking with three 70 mL portions of ether. Dry the combined ether extracts by adding several grams of calcium sulfate, shake for a minute, and then filter to remove the sulfate. Remove the ether by allowing it to evaporate. Finally, distill the crude product to collect pure m-cresol. The yield is 58% or about 2.5 g.

cupric sulfate			CuSO₄	CAS number 7758-98-7
mp 560 (dec)	bp -	d 3.6	m 159.61	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: bluestone; blue vitrol; chalcanthite; copper sulfate; dried cupric sulfate; hydrocyanite; Roman vitrol; Salzburg vitrol
Synthesis: Coming soon!

dextrin		(C₆H₁₀O₅)_n+ xH₂O		CAS number 9004-53-9
mp -	bp -	d ?	m -	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: British gum; canary dextrin; corn dextrin; dextrin hydrate, white; pyrodextrin; starch gum; torrefaction dextrin; white dextrin; yellow dextrin
Synthesis: Coming soon!

2,3-diazido-1,4-butanediol			X_aY_bZ_c	CAS number 131063-52-0
mp ?	bp ?	d ?	m ?	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

3,3-diazido-2,4-pentanediol			X_aY_bZ_c	CAS number ?
mp ?	bp ?	d ?	m ?	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

1,3-dichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene			X_aY_bZ_c	CAS number 1630-09-7
mp ?	bp ?	d ?	m ?	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

dicyanodiamide			C₂H₄N₄	CAS number 461-58-5
mp 209.5	bp ?	d 1.400	m 84.08	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: cyanoguanidine; 1-cyanoguanidine; 2-cyanoguanidine; DCD; dicyandiamide
Synthesis: Nothing yet

N,N-dimethylaniline			C₈H₁₁N	CAS number 121-69-7
mp 2	bp 192-194	d 0.956	m 121.18	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: N,N-dimethylbenzenamine; (dimethylamino)benzene; dimethylaniline; dimethylphenylamine; N,N-dimethylphenylamine; dimethylphylamine; DMA; Versneller NL 63/10
Synthesis: Nothing yet

N,N-dimethylformamide			HCON(CH₃)₂	CAS number 68-12-2
mp -61	bp 153	d 0.9445	m 73.09	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable, Toxic
Synonyms: DMF; DMFA
Synthesis: Nothing yet

2,4-dinitrophenetole			X_aY_bZ_c	CAS number 610-54-8
mp ?	bp ?	d ?	m ?	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms:
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ß-(2,4-dinitrophenoxy) ethanol			(NO₂)₂C₆H₃OCH₂CH₂OH	CAS number 2831-60-9
mp ?	bp ?	d ?	m ?	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: dinitrophenylglycolether nitrate; glycoldinitrophenylether nitrate
Synthesis: I know very little about this compound, it is an explosive, but the synthesis details are too sketchy for inclusion in its own page. It can be prepared from dichlorobenzene and ethylene glycol, followed by nitration of the resulting glycol monophenyl ether.

dioxane			C₄H₈O₂	CAS number 123-91-1
mp 11.80	bp 101.1	d 1.0329	m 88.11	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: diethylene dioxide; 1,4-diethylene dioxide; diethylene ether; diethylene oxide; 1,4-diethyleneoxide; diokan; Diox; 1,4-dioxacyclohexane; 1,4-dioxane; p-dioxane; dioxyethylene ether; ethylene glycol ethylene ether; glycol ethylene ether; tetrahydro-1,4-dioxin; tetrahydro-p-dioxin
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethyl acetate			CH₃COOC₂H₅	CAS number 141-78-6
mp -83	bp 77	d 0.898	m 88.11	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable
Synonyms: acetic acid ethyl ester; acetic ester; acetic ether; acetidin; acetoxyethane; ethyl acetic ester; vinegar naphtha
Synthesis: Prepare a mixture of 50 mL of ethyl alcohol and 50 mL of 98-100% sulfuric acid in a round-bottomed 500-mL Florence flask. Set the flask up for simple distillation with addition. Heat the mixture with an oil bath, when the temperature of the oil reaches 140 °C slowly add a mixture of 400 mL of ethyl alcohol and 400 mL of glacial acetic acid through the addition funnel. Control the addition of the acid mix to correspond to the rate at which the product distills over. Once the reaction has been completed, transfer the distillate to a beaker. Treat the distillate with a dilute solution of sodium carbonate to neutralize any acetic acid that has passed over. Test the pH of the upper layer; it should be basic. Transfer the neutralized distillate to a separatory funnel, and drain off the lower layer. Filter the remaining layer to remove any contaminants, and then pour the solution back into the separatory funnel. Prepare a solution of 100 g of calcium chloride in 100 mL of water. Add this solution to the separatory funnel to remove any excess alcohol, shake the funnel well. The calcium chloride can also be added in portions if desired, drain off the lower each time. After shaking, dry the upper layer by transferring it to a small Erlenmeyer flask with a layer of granular calcium chloride in the bottom. Filter the dried product to remove the calcium chloride, transfer the filtrate to a Florence flask, and then simple distill to collect pure ethyl acetate. Yield can be as high as 90%.

ethyl alcohol			C₂H₅OH	CAS number 64-17-5
mp 114.1	bp 78.5	d 0.789	m 46.07	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: ethanol; absolute alcohol; alcohol; alcohol dehydrated; algrain; anhydrol; anhydrous alcohol; booze; cologne spirits; dehydrated alcohol; denatured alcohol; ethanol 200 proof; ethyl hydrate; ethyl hydroxide; fermentation alcohol; grain alcohol; hooch; jaysol; jaysol s; liqueur; methylcarbinol; molasses alcohol; moon shine; potato alcohol; sd alcohol 23-hydrogen; spirits; spirits of wine; Synasol; tecsol
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethyl chloride			C₂H₅Cl	CAS number 75-00-3
mp -138.7	bp 12.3	d 0.9214	m 64.51	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: chloroethane; aethylis; aethylis chloridum; Anodynon; Chelen; chlorene; chlorethyl; chloridum; chloryl; Chloryl Anesthetic; cloretilo; dublofix; ether chloratus; ether hydrochloric; ether muriatic; hydrochloric ether; Kelene; monochloroethane; muriatic ether; Narcotile
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethylene dichloride			ClCH₂CH₂Cl	CAS number 107-06-2
mp -40	bp 83-84	d 1.2569	m 98.96	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable, Toxic
Synonyms: 1,2-dichloroethane; Brocide; sym-dichloroethane; Dutch liquid; EDC; ethylene chloride
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethylene glycol			HOCH₂CH₂OH	CAS number 107-21-1
mp -13	bp 197.6	d 1.1135	m 62.07	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: 1,2-ethanediol; 1,2-dihydroxyethane; Dowtherm 4000; Dowtherm SR 1; EG; ethane-1,2-diol; ethylene alcohol; ethylene dihydrate; Fridex; glycol; glycol alcohol; lutrol-9; macrogol 400 bpc; M.E.G.; monoethylene glycol; norkool; tescol; ucar 17
Synthesis: Nothing yet

ethyl ether			C₂H₅OC₂H₅	CAS number 60-29-7
mp -116.3	bp 34.6	d 0.7134	m 74.12	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable
Synonyms: 1,1'-oxybisethane; anesthetic ether; diethyl oxide; diethyl ether; ether; ethoxyethane; ethyl oxide; pronarcol; sulfuric ether
Ether is a very useful organic solvent that has fallen into ill repute because of its use by drug dealers. It is a watched chemical by the DEA, purchasing large quantities will put you on The List. Ether is an explosively flammable liquid that will easily fill a room with fumes just waiting to be ignited by the slightest heat, it ignites over 180 °C. Keep containers of ether tightly closed and away from all flame sources. Ether used to be an anesthetic back in the days, inhaling the fumes will cause unconsciousness, but not much damage if you get to fresh air. Ether can also form an explosive peroxide if it is old or exposed to air. In short, keep ether away from all flame, in a well ventilated area, and tightly sealed in its container. You might think that ether and water do not mix, wrong, ether can hold up to 1.2% water. The only OTC source of ether is in starting fluid for cars, among other contaminants, from which it can be distilled. Ether can easily be prepared by reacting ethyl alcohol with sulfuric acid. Synthesis: Assemble the necessary equipment for fractional distillation, adding in a Clasien adapter. Place the fractionating column on the side arm of the Clasien, and a 2-holed rubber stopper in the straight arm. In the first hole, place a thermometer that extends to near the bottom of the reaction flask. In the second hole, place a length of glass tubing that extends to near the bottom and sticks up about an inch. Place a short length of rubber tubing on the glass tubing and connect it to an addition funnel. The rubber tubing is to slightly offset the funnel which would get in the way of the thermometer. If using a 500-mL reaction flask, add 146 mL of anhydrous ethyl alcohol. You can use 95% alcohol but the efficiency of the reaction will suffer because of the water. Slowly add 133 mL of anhydrous sulfuric acid, again you can use less than 100%, but the more water there is the worse the reaction will proceed. Place a magnetic spin bar in the flask and connect it to the rest of the apparatus. Using a hotplate or oil bath, no flame, heat the reaction flask, while stirring, to between 130-140 °C and hold it at that temperature. Be sure not to go in excess of 150 °C as ethylene gas will be produced. Once some distillate starts to come over, slowly add an additional 146 mL of ethyl alcohol from the addition funnel at the same rate as is collected from the distillation. That should be about a drop or two a second. The total distillation time should be over 2 hours. After the distillation is over, pour the distillate from the receiver flask to a large beaker and add 10% sodium hydroxide solution until the pH is neutral. Pour this mixture into a seperatory funnel and allow the lighter ether layer to float on top. Remove the heavier water layer and wash the remaining ether by shaking twice with a volume of saturated salt water equal to the volume of ether. Allow the last wash to sit for several minutes to insure complete seperation then remove the water layer. Put the ether in a Florence flask and add 15 g of calcium chloride for every 100 mL of ether, stir this for 2 hours with a magnetic stirrer. Finally, do a simple distillation to remove the now anhydrous ether from the calcium chloride.

formaldehyde			HCHO	CAS number 50-00-0
mp -92	bp -19.5	d 1.067	m 30.03	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable, Toxic
Synonyms: BFV; fannoform; formaldehyde solution; Formalin; Formalin 40; formalith; formic aldehyde; Formol; FYDE; HCHO; HOCH; karsan; lysoform; Methan 21; methanal; methyl aldehyde; methylene glycol; methylene oxide; Morbicid; oxomethane; oxomethylene; oxymethylene; superlysoform; Veracur
Synthesis: Formaldehyde can be obtained at Wal-Mart stores in a variety of products called Campa Chem for use in recreational vehicle sewage treatment (in the automotive section). There is one brand that is solid granules, get that, not the solution. The actual chemical is paraformaldehyde, the polymerized form of formaldehyde, but formaldehyde can be obtained from this. Campa Chem paraformaldehyde is dyed blue for some reason with an unknown chemical. As this may or may not affect some chemical reactions it is best to remove it. One of the simplest ways is to extract the dye with numerous small portions of alcohol. Empty the packets (a box comes with ten 2 oz packets) in a beaker and add 40 mL of ethyl or methyl alcohol per packet to wet the powder. Two packets for example will require about 1 L of ethyl alcohol to extract most of the blue dye. You should add only 20-25 mL at a time, stir, and pour off the alcohol. You may lose a little of the paraformaldehyde when you decant off the alcohol, so a filter may help. With each successive extraction more of the dye will be removed. The dark blue alcohol extract can be simple distilled to recover pure alcohol. The resulting paraformaldehyde granules may still have a slight blue tint, but significant quantities of the dye will be gone. To obtain a formaldehyde solution add 100 g of paraformaldehyde granules to a bottle and dilute with enough water to make 250 mL of solution. Add a small amount of sodium hydroxide, approximately 120 mg, to the solution. Cap the bottle and shake to dissolve some of the paraformaldehyde. Place the bottle into a hot water bath heated to 60 degrees C for 25-30 minutes. Every 5 minutes shake the bottle and open it to vent any gasses. Some of the paraformaldehyde may not have dissolved, it can be filtered off, or heat the bottle longer. The resulting formaldehyde solution should be about 40% and will remain fresh for a few days if refrigerated. Not everyone may be able to get to Wal-Mart, so here is a synthesis of formaldehyde from scratch: The side tube (length about 10 cm) of a distilling flask (capacity 250-mL) is bent upwards at the junction with the neck of the flask. The end of the side tube, drawn out into a capillary (internal diameter 1.0-1.5 mm), is then inserted through a cork into a piece of combustion tubing about 30 cm long (fig 53). Within the tubing and about 6 cm from the point of the capillary is a copper spiral 4 cm long. The tubing slopes upwards at a small angle and its upper end is connected with a vertical condenser, preferably of the coil type. To the lower end of the condenser there are attached two communicating receivers which, during the experiment, are almost completely immersed in a freezing mixture. The short side tube of the second receiver is connected to an air pump (like a fish tank pump). Into the distilling flask, which is lowered as deeply as possible into a water bath kept exactly at 46-47 degrees C, 100 mL of methyl alcohol are poured. The flask is then closed with a rubber stopper, through which is inserted a glass tube reaching nearly to the bottom. Through this tube air is drawn in, and when the air is passing, the copper spiral is warmed in the flame, cautiously at first, until, when red heat is reached, the reaction sets in. The air current must now be so regulated that the spiral continues to glow quite feebly without further application of heat. If the experiment is carried out in this way there will be complete freedom from explosions. The region within which methyl alcohol-air mixtures explode is indeed reached when the temperature of the bath is too low (42-44 degrees C), but the flame strikes back no further than the capillary tube, since the rapid current in the latter prevents further striking back. This is why it is very important to keep the water bath at 46-47 degrees C. The two receivers contain 110-115 mL of a 30-32% formaldehyde solution after all the methyl alcohol has been evaporated. A further small quantity of formaldehyde may still be collected in a third receiver containing a little water. The following paragraph contains some points which should be considered in carrying out gaseous reactions. In order to dehydrogenate one mole of methyl alcohol 0.5 mole of oxygen is required, and hence for one volume of the alcohol half as much oxygen or two and a half times as much air. The stoicheiometrical must therefore contain methyl alcohol and air in the proportions (by volume) 1 : 2.5, ie. 28.5% of methyl alcohol. Since the volumes vary as the partial pressures the temp of evaporation (of the alcohol) must be so chosen that its vapor pressure shall be 28.5% of the atmospheric pressure, ie. About 210 mm of mercury. With the simple type of apparatus here described complete saturation of the air with methyl alcohol vapor is not reached, and hence a temperature somewhat higher than the theoretical is used.

formamide			HCONH₂	CAS number 75-12-7
mp 2.55	bp 210.5	d 1.13340	m 45.04	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: carbamaldehyde; formimidic acid; methanamide
Synthesis: Nothing yet

formic acid			HCOOH	CAS number 64-18-6
mp 8.4	bp 100.8	d 1.220	m 46.03	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Corrosive
Synonyms: ameisensäure; aminic acid; formylic acid; hydrogencarboxylic acid; methanoic acid
Synthesis: Nothing yet

gasoline			mixture	CAS number 86290-81-5	No Graphic
mp ?	bp 32-210	d ?	m -	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS Flammable
Synonyms: Benzin; gas; gasahol; gasolene; light gasoline; motor fuel; motor spirits; natural gasoline; petrol; premium; super; unleaded
Synthesis: Coming soon!

glycerol			CH₂OHCHOHCH₂OH	CAS number 56-81-5
mp 17.8	bp 290 (dec)	d 1.26362	m 92.09	c $?.??
Safety Data: MSDS
Synonyms: 1,2,3-propanetriol; Bulbold; Cristal; Glyceol; glycerin; glycerine; glycerin mist; glyceritol; D-glycerol; L-glycerol; glycyl alcohol; IFP; incorporation factor; Ophthalgan; polyhydric alcohols; propanetriol; trihydroxypropane; 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane
Synthesis: Coming soon!