Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise Part 19

The most expeditious method of determining the nitrogen in these nitro bodies is by the use of Lunge's nitrometer (Fig. 41), and the best way of working the process is as follows:--Weigh out with the greatest care 0.6 grm. of the previously dried substance in a small weighing bottle of about 15 c.c. capacity, and carefully add 10 c.c. of concentrated sulphuric acid from a pipette, and allow to stand until all the cotton is dissolved. The nitrometer should be of a capacity 150 to 200 c.c., and should contain a bulb of 100 c.c. capacity at the top, and should be fitted with a Greiner and Friederich's three-way tap. When the nitro-cotton has entirely dissolved to a clear solution, raise the pressure tube of the nitrometer so as to bring the mercury in the measuring tube close up to the tap. Open the tap in order to allow of the escape of any air bubbles, and clean the surface of the mercury and the inside of the cup with a small piece of filter paper. Now close the tap, and pour the solution of the nitro-cotton into the cup. Rinse out the bottle with 15 c.c. of sulphuric acid, contained in a pipette, pouring a little of the acid over the stopper of the weighing bottle in case some of the solution may be on it. Now lower the pressure tube a little, just enough to cause the solution to flow into the bulb of the measuring tube, when the tap is slightly opened. When the solution has run in almost to the end, turn off the tap, wash down the sides of the bottle, and add to the cup of the nitrometer; allow it to flow in as before, and then wash down the sides of the cup with 10 c.c. of sulphuric acid, adding little by little, and allowing each portion added to flow into the bulb of the nitrometer before adding the next portion.

Great care is necessary to prevent air bubbles obtaining admission, and if the pressure tube is lowered too far, the acid will run with a rush and carry air along with it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 41.--ORDINARY FORM OF LUNGe NITROMETER.]

The solution being all in the measuring tube, the pressure tube is again slightly raised, and the tube containing the nitro-cotton solution shaken for ten minutes with considerable violence. It is then replaced in the clamp, and the pressure relieved by lowering the pressure tube, and the whole apparatus allowed to stand for twenty minutes, in order to allow the gas evolved to a.s.sume the temperature of the room. A thermometer should be hung up close to the bulb of the measuring tube. At the end of the twenty minutes, the levels of the mercury in the pressure and measuring tubes are equalised, and the final adjustment obtained by slightly opening the tap on the measuring tube (very slightly), after first adding a little sulphuric acid to the cup, and observing whether the acid runs in or moves up. This must be done with very great care. When accurately adjusted, it should move neither way. Now read off the volume of the NO gas in cubic centimetres from the measuring tube. Read also the thermometer suspended near the bulb, and take the height of the barometer in millimetres. The calculation is very simple.

EXAMPLE--COLLODION-COTTON.

0.6[A] grm. taken. Reading on measuring tube = 114.6 c.c. NO. Barometer-- 758 mm. Temperature--15 C.

[Footnote A: 0.5 grm. is enough in the case of gun-cotton.]

Since 1 c.c. NO = 0.6272 milligramme N, and correcting for temperature and pressure by the formula

760 x (1 + _d_^{2}) (_d_ = .003665), for temperature 15 = 801.78,[A]

then

(114.6 x 100 x 750 x .6272)/(801.7 x. 6) = 11.22 per cent. nitrogen.

[Footnote A: See Table, page 244.]

The nitrogen in nitro-glycerine may of course be determined by the nitrometer, but in this case it is better to take a much smaller quant.i.ty of the substance. From 0.1 to 0.2 grm. is quite sufficient. This will give from 30 to 60 c.c. of gas, and therefore a measuring tube without a 100 c.c. bulb must be used.

EXAMPLE.

0.1048 grm. nitroglycerine taken gave 32.5 c.c. NO. Barometer, 761 mm.

Temperature, 15 C.

Therefore,

(3.25 x 100 x 761 x .6272)/(801.78 x.1048) = 18.46 per cent. N. Theory = 18.50 per cent.

Professor Lunge has devised another form of nitrometer (Fig. 42), very useful in the nitrogen determination in explosives. It consists of a measuring tube, which is widened out in the middle to a bulb, and is graduated above and below into 1/10 c.c. The capacity of the whole apparatus is 130 c.c.; that of each portion of the tube being 30 c.c., and of the bulb 70 c.c. The upper portion of the graduated tube serves to measure small volumes of gas, whilst larger volumes are read off on the lower part.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 42. FIG. 43. SOME NEW FORMS OF NITROMETER.]

F.M. Horn (_Zeitschrift fur angewandte Chemie_, 1892, p. 358) has devised a form of nitrometer (Fig. 43) which he has found especially useful in the examination of smokeless powders. The tap H is provided with a wide bore through which a weighed quant.i.ty of the powder is dropped bodily into the bulb K. From 4 to 5 c.c. of sulphuric acid which has been heated to 30 C.

are then added through the funnel T, the tap H being immediately closed.

When the powder has dissolved--a process which may be hastened by warming the bulb very carefully--the thick solution is drawn into the nitrometer tube N, and the bulb rinsed several times with fresh acid, after which operation the a.n.a.lysis is proceeded with in the usual way.

Dr Lunge's method of using a separate nitrometer in which to measure the NO gas evolved to the one in which the reaction has taken place, the gas being transferred from the one to the other by joining them by means of indiarubber tubing, and then driving the gas over by raising the pressure tube of the one containing the gas, the taps being open, I have found to be a great improvement.

1 c.c. NO gas at 0 and 760 mm.

Equals 0.6272 milligrammes (N) nitrogen.

" 1.343 " nitric oxide.

" 2.820 " (HNO_{3}) nitric acid.

" 3.805 " (NaNO_{3}) sodium nitrate.

" 4.523 " (KNO_{3}) pota.s.sium nitrate.

~Champion and Pellet's Method.~--This method is now very little used. It is based upon the fact that when nitro-cellulose is boiled with ferrous chloride and hydrochloric acid, all the nitrogen is disengaged as nitric oxide (NO). It is performed as follows:--A vacuum is made in a flask, fitted with a funnel tube, with a gla.s.s stopper on the tube; a delivery tube that can also be closed, and which dips under a solution of caustic soda contained in a trough, and the end placed under a graduated tube, also full of caustic soda. From 0.12 to 0.16 grm. cotton dissolved in 5 to 6 c.c. of sulphuric acid is allowed to flow into the flask, which contains the ferrous chloride and hydrochloric acid, and in which a vacuum has been formed by boiling, and then closing the taps. The solution is then heated, the taps on the delivery tube opened, and the end placed under the collecting tube, and the NO evolved collected. The NO gas is not evolved until the solution has become somewhat concentrated. Eder subst.i.tuted a solution of ferrous sulphate in HCl for ferrous chloride. Care must be taken that the flask used is strong enough to stand the pressure, or it will burst.

The same chemists (_Compt. Rendus_, lx.x.xiii. 707) also devised the following method for determining the NO_{2} in nitro-glycerine:--A known quant.i.ty of a solution of ferrous sulphate of previously ascertained reducing power is placed in a flask, acidified with hydrochloric acid, and its surface covered with a layer of petroleum oil. About .5 grm. of the nitro-glycerine is then introduced, and the flask heated on the water bath. When the sample is completely decomposed, the liquid is heated to boiling to remove nitric oxide, and the excess of ferrous sulphate ascertained by t.i.tration with standard permanganate; 56 of iron (Fe) oxidised by the sample correspond to 23 of NO_{2} in the sample of nitro-glycerine.

~The Schultze-Tieman Method~ for determining nitrogen in nitro-explosives, especially nitro-cellulose and nitro-glycerine.--The figure (No. 44) shows the general arrangement of the apparatus. I am indebted for the following description of the method of working it to my friend, Mr William Bate, of Hayle. To fill the apparatus with the soda solution, the gas burette is put on the indiarubber stopper of basin W, and firmly clamped down. Then the taps A and C are opened, and B closed. When the burette is filled with soda solution half-way up the funnel Y, A and C are closed, and B opened.

The arrows show the inlet and outlet for the cooling water that is kept running through the water jacket round the nitrometer tube. To collect the gas, raise the nitrometer off the rubber stopper, and place the gas tube from the decomposition apparatus in the gla.s.s dish W and under the opening of the nitrometer.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 44. SCHULTZE-TIEMAN APPARATUS.]

For the estimation of nitrogen in nitro-cellulose take .5 to .65 grm., and place in the decomposition flask _f_ (Fig. 45), washing in with about 25 c.c. of water by alternately opening clips D and E. The air in the flask is driven out by boiling, whilst the air is shut off by the tube _i_ dipping into the basin W, which is filled with the soda lye, and tube K is placed in the test tube R, which contains a few c.c. of water. As soon as all the air is completely driven out, clips D and E are closed, and the gas jet is taken away. (This flask must be a strong one, or it will burst.) Into test tube R, 25 c.c. of concentrated solution of protochloride of iron and 10 to 15 c.c. concentrated hydrochloric acid are poured, which are sucked up into the developing flask _f_ by opening clip E, air being carefully kept from entering. The clip E is now closed, and tube _i_ is put underneath the burette, and the development of NO gas is commenced by heating the contents of the flask _f_. When the pressure of the gas in the flask has become greater than the pressure of the atmosphere, the connecting tube begins to swell at _i_, whereupon clip D is opened, and the boiling continued with frequent shaking of the bulb, until no more nitrous gas bubbles rise up into the soda lye, the distilling over of the HCl causes a crackling noise, the clip D is closed, and E opened. The burette is again put hermetically on the indiarubber stopper in basin W, and the apparatus is left to cool until the water discharged through P shows the same temperature as the water flowing through (into the cooling jacket) Z. If the level of the soda solution in the tube X is now put on exactly the same level as that in the burette by lowering or elevating the tube X as required, the volume of NO obtained in c.c. can be read off within 1/10 c.c., and the percentage of nitrogen calculated by the usual formula.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 45.--Decomposition Flask for Schultze-Tieman Method.]

The solution of protochloride of iron is obtained by dissolving iron nails, &c., in concentrated HCl, the iron being in excess. When the development of hydrogen ceases, it is necessary to filter warm through a paper filter, and acidify filtrate with a few drops of HCl. The soda solution used has a sp. gr. of 1.210 to 1.260; equals 25 to 30 B. The nitro-cellulose is dried in quant.i.ties of 2 grms. at 70 C. during eight to ten hours, and then three hours in an exiccator over H_{2}SO_{4}. The results obtained with this apparatus are very accurate. The reaction is founded upon that of MM. Champion and Pellet's method.

~The Kjeldahl Method of Determining Nitrogen.~--This method, which has been so largely used by a.n.a.lysts for the determination of nitrogen in organic bodies, more especially perhaps in manures, was proposed by J.

Kjeldahl,[A] of the Carlsberg Laboratory of Copenhagen. It was afterwards modified by Jodlbauer, of Munich,[B] and applied to the a.n.a.lysis of nitro- explosives by M. Chenel, of the Laboratoire Centrale des Poudres, whose method of procedure is as follows:--0.5 grm. of the finely powdered substance is digested in the cold with a solution of 1.2 grm. of phenol and 0.4 grm. phosphoric anhydride in 30 c.c. of sulphuric acid. The mixture is kept well shaken until the solution is complete. From 3 to 4 grms. of zinc-dust is then cautiously and gradually added, the temperature of the ma.s.s being kept down until complete reduction has been effected.

Finally, 0.7 grm. of mercury is added, and the process continued in the usual way, according to Kjeldahl; that is, the liquid is distilled until all the ammonia has pa.s.sed over, and is absorbed in the standard acid. The distillate is then t.i.trated with standard ammonia.

[Footnote A: J. Kjeldahl, _Zeitschrift a.n.a.l. Chem._, 1883, xxii., p. 366.]

[Footnote B: Jodlbauer, _Chemisches Centralblatt_, 1886, pp. 434-484. See also _Arms and Explosives_, 1893, p. 87.]

The NO_{2} group is at the moment of solution fixed upon the phenol with the production of mono-nitro-phenol, which is afterwards reduced by the action of the zinc-dust into the amido derivative. During the subsequent combustion, the nitrogen of the amido-phenol becomes fixed in the state of ammonia. M. Chenel is perfectly satisfied with the results obtained, but he points out that the success of the operation depends upon the complete conversion of the phenol into the mono-nitro derivatives. This takes place whenever the organic compound forms a _clear solution_ in the cold sulphuric acid mixture. Substances like collodion or gun-cotton must be very finely divided for successful treatment. The following table shows some of the results obtained by M. Chenel:--

______________________________________________ | | | | | Total Nitrogen. | | Substances a.n.a.lysed. |______________________| | | | | | | Calculated. | Found. | | |_____________|________| | | | | | Saltpetre (KNO_{3}) | 13.86 | 13.91 | | | | 13.82 | | | | 13.73 | | | | 13.96 | | Ammonium nitrate | 35.00 | 35.31 | | | | 34.90 | | | | 34.96 | | Barium nitrate | 10.72 | 10.67 | | | | 10.62 | | Nitro-glycerol | 18.50 | 18.45 | | Di-nitro-benzol[A] | 16.67 | 16.78 | | | | 16.57 | | Para-nitro-phenol | 10.07 | 10.03 | | Picric acid[A] | 18.34 | 18.42 | | | | 18.43 | | Ammonium picrate | 22.76 | 22.63 | | | | 22.67 | | Di-nitro-ortho-cresol | 14.14 | 14.10 | | | | 13.98 | | Tri-nitro-meta-cresol | 17.28 | 17.57 | | | | 17.27 | |_______________________|_____________|________|

[Footnote A: Dr. Bernard Dyer obtained 18.39 per cent. for picric acid and 16.54 per cent. for di-nitro-benzol.--_Jour. Chem. Soc._, Aug. 1895.]

When Chenel endeavoured to apply Jodlbauer's modification of Kjeldahl's process to the examination of the tri- and tetra-nitrated naphthalenes, he found that good results were not obtainable, because these compounds do not dissolve completely in the cold sulphuric acid. It may, however, be used if they are previously converted into the naphthylamines, according to the plan proposed by D'Aguiar and Lautemann (_Bull. Soc. Chim._, vol.

iii., new series, p. 256). This is rapidly effected as follows:--Twelve grms. of iodine are gradually added to a solution of 2 grms. of phosphorus in about 15 or 20 c.c. of bisulphide of carbon, this solution being contained in a flask of 250 c.c. capacity. The flask and its contents are heated on the water bath at 100 C. with constant attention, until the last traces of the carbon bisulphide have distilled away. It is then cooled, and the iodide of phosphorus is detached from the sides of the flask by shaking, but not expelled. The next step is to add about 0.5 to 0.6 grm. of the substance that is to be a.n.a.lysed, after which 8 grms. of water are introduced, and the flask is agitated gently two or three times.

As soon as the reaction becomes lively, the contents of the flask are well shaken. It is usually finished about one minute after the addition of the water. The flask is now cooled, and 25 c.c. of sulphuric acid, together with 0.7 grm. of mercury, are gradually added; hydriodic acid (HI) forms, and the temperature of the flask must be raised sufficiently to expel it.

The remaining part of the operation is as in the ordinary Kjeldahl process.

M. Chenel has found this process the best for the a.n.a.lysis of the nitro- naphthalenes, and for impervious substances like collodion or gun-cotton.

Personally, I have never been able to obtain satisfactory results with this process in the a.n.a.lysis of nitro-cellulose, and I am of opinion that the process does not possess any advantage over the nitrometer method, at any rate for the a.n.a.lysis of gun-cotton.

Table giving the Percentages of Nitrogen and Oxide of Nitrogen in Various Substances used in or as Explosives:

Name FORMULae NITROGEN NO_{2} per cent. per cent.

Nitroglycerine C_{3}H_{5}(ONO_{2})_{3} 18.50 = 60.70 Hexa-nitro-cellulose C_{12}H_{14}O_{4}(ONO_{2})_{6} 14.14 = 46.42 Penta-nitro-cellulose C_{6}H_{8}O_{5}(ONO_{2})_{5} 11.11 = 36.50 Nitro-benzene C_{6}H_{5}NO_{2} 11.38 = 37.39 Di-nitro-benzene C_{6}H_{4}(NO_{2})_{2} 16.67 = 54.77 Tri-nitro-benzene C_{6}H_{3}(NO_{2})_{3} 19.24 = 63.22 Nitro-toluene C_{7}H_{7}NO_{2} 10.21 = 33.49 Nitro-naphthalene C_{10}H_{7}NO_{2} 8.09 = 26.53 Di-nitro-naphthalene C_{10}H_{6}(NO_{2})_{2} 12.84 = 42.12 Nitro-mannite C_{6}H_{7}(NO_{3})_{6} 23.59 = 77.37 Nitro-starch C_{6}H_{8}O_{4}(HNO_{3}) 6.76 = 22.18 Picric acid (Tri-nitro-phenol) C_{6}H_{2}OH(NO_{2})_{3} 18.34 = 60.15 Chloro-nitro-benzene C_{6}H_{3}Cl(NO_{2})_{2} 13.82 = 45.43 Ammonium nitrate NH_{4}NO_{3} 35.00 = Sodium nitrate NaNO_{3} 16.47 = Pota.s.sium nitrate KNO_{3} 13.86 = Nitric acid HNO_{3} 22.22 = Barium nitrate Ba(NO_{3})_{2} 10.72 =

~a.n.a.lysis of Celluloid.~--The finely divided celluloid is well stirred, by means of a platinum wire, with concentrated sulphuric acid in the cup of a Lunge nitrometer, and when dissolved the nitrogen determined in the solution in the usual way. To prevent interference from camphor, the following treatment is suggested by H. Zaunschirm (_Chem. Zeit._, xiv., 905). Dissolve a weighed quant.i.ty of the celluloid in a mixture of ether- alcohol, mixed with a weighed quant.i.ty of washed and ignited asbestos, or pumice-stone, dry, and disintegrate the ma.s.s, and afterwards extract the camphor with chloroform, dry, and weigh: then extract with absolute methyl-alcohol, evaporate, weigh, and examine the nitro-cellulose in the nitrometer.

~Picric Acid and Picrates.~--Picric acid is soluble in hot water, and to the extent of 1 part in 100 in cold water, also in ether, chloroform, glycerine, 10 per cent. soda solution, alcohol, amylic alcohol, carbon bisulphide, benzene, and petroleum. If a solution of picric acid be boiled with a strong solution of pota.s.sium cyanide, a deep red liquid is produced, owing to the formation of pota.s.sium iso-purpurate, which crystallises in small reddish-brown plates with a beetle-green l.u.s.tre.

This, by reaction with ammonium chloride, gives ammonium iso-purpurate (NH_{4}C_{8}H_{4}N_{5}O_{6}), or artificial murexide, which dies silk and wool a beautiful red colour. On adding barium chloride to either of the above salts, a vermilion-red precipitate was formed, consisting of barium iso-purpurate. With ammonio-sulphate of copper, solutions of picric acid give a bright green precipitate. Mr A.H. Allen gives the following methods for the a.s.say of commercial picric acid, in his "Commercial Organic a.n.a.lysis":--