Elementary Productions: Synthesis of Isopropyl Nitrite

[kenjoneslee]

Today, I made my best IBN ever, as good as OTC. Most online sources say to add the acid and alcohol to one another before adding to the sodium. That wasn't working for me. Instead, I added the alcohol to the sodium in water; then slowly added, drop by drop, the acid, stirring constantly to prevent too much concentrated heat, which causes fizzing and Nitrogen dioxide. Today's brew gave a wonderful euphoric high. IBN was made for sex.

[kenjoneslee]

I've tried to make IBN many times, but only succeeded 3 times. Apparently, if the bottom layer is hazy or cloudy, the batch is ruined. I'm trying to figure out why I can't repeat the successes. A ruined batch is potent, but not in a good way. And it smells acidic. There may be multiple forms of nitrite forming when the conditions aren't exact. The haziness and precipitate must be impurities. Even when there is no Nitrogen Oxide smoke or fizzing, the batch is ruined if it's cloudy.

[kenjoneslee]

The good batches of IBN smell better and effects occur more slowly, commencing in a warm head rush that lasts for awhile. And of course, you feel like a total wanton slut at the peak of the rush. The bad batches cause faster effects, like rapid heart beat, but that warm, slow gush to a horny state of being doesn't happen. The odor is unpleasant as well.

[kenjoneslee]

Tried making many small batches of Isobutyl nitrite, but have failed mostly. Cannot get the clear aqua color to repeat. Temps under 0 Celsius don't work at all. Precipitate and toxic smoke forms. I got once small batch to work today. The isobutyl nitrite was like OTC, good effects. Main difference was temp was warmer and I added the al/acid mix to aqueous NaNO very slowly, drop by drop. Almost clear colorless fluid formed under ester.

[kenjoneslee]

Temperature is critical. Has to be around 0 degrees C. Too cold or too warm and the brew fizzes and gives off brown Nitrogen Dioxide smoke and once that happens, it should be discarded. Invest in a temp gauge. Also, with the isobutyl recipe, I am finding that the bottom layer is clear aqua blue and the top layer is clear and nearly colorless when the temp and ratios of ingredients are optimal.

[kenjoneslee]

I now am making inhalable nitrites with isobutyl alcohol. It's a thousand times better than IPA. Doesn't make my blood pressure drop precpitously and onset of pleasurable effects slowly build and recovery is fast. But stability of finished product doesn't last long, even in fridge. Once the odor starts to change, it should be pitched.

[kenjoneslee]

Final product will be clear yellow and should smell aromatic, fruity, pungent but NOT burned or acidic. I tried other ways of adding the ingredients, but this works best. Remember NO brown smoke, keep ice cold without forming ice and the nitrite should be AROMATIC, almost pleasant smelling.

[kenjoneslee]

Recently, I have had more success making IPA that doesn't seem to have toxic lingering effects. These undesireable side effects could be do to impurities, such as nitrogen dioxide, a yellowish brown gas. If the reaction temps are not cold enough, then this gas visibly forms and this is completely undesirable. 20ml H20 plus half tsp sodium nitrite, mix, put in freezer. 2ml precooled sulfuric acid to 5ml 91% rubbing alcohol.  Put in freezer to keep reaction cold. Add acid/al mix to Na H20.

[JonIsGangstar]

I have a synthesis method, mix powder sodium inside the isopropyl alcohol then put nitrogen dioxide through it. However this method is quite dangerous I suppose, breathing in nitrogen dioxide is fatal also the product sodium hydroxide is an alkali.

[kenjoneslee]

I've made small amounts of IPA for personal use and it is indeed extremely toxic compared to isobutyl nitrite. Perhaps it's due to its lower molecular weight. It causes very low blood pressure and long lasting fatigue. It's so potent that quick sniffs is all your body can handle. And once your body starts to OD on it, you have to stop because each subsequent inhalation makes the unpleasant symptoms get worse and worse. You will have to lie down until you feel well enough to walk again.

[JonIsGangstar]

@kenjoneslee It's because of it's lower boiling point, it evaporates faster and hence you inhale more.

[Keepmovin2000]

ok...I know it's a bit of a pain in the butt to go out and buy a magnetic stiring machine...but do it. IF you stir by hand, the yield is only half of what you would get (if you're lucky). If you're really that broke, then look up on youtube the phrase "homemade magnetic stirer" or something like that. There are at least 7 people out there who have gone through the trouble to help you make your own at home with easy to get supplies. Before I made my own, my yield sucked...but not anymore!

[thebeast491819]

Excellent.. BUT.. :( quantities and concentrations?

[Keepmovin2000]

@thebeast491819 there are a few websites out there that list all the quantities and concentrations. The only thing I would say that he should elaborate on is the type of sulfuric acid he used. I think since his label says it's concentrated that it must be in the field of 18 molecules or so, but can't be sure. IPA is at least 90 percent, and sodium nitrite would be in the lab quality grade.

[alexandarlo]

Is isopropyl nitrite actually poppers, ore is poppers made by adding a few other substances??? Pls reply. :)

[Keepmovin2000]

@alexandarlo mmm...the information is out there.

[JonIsGangstar]

Lets say I use ammonium nitrite, will it still give off isopropyl nitrite?

[JonIsGangstar]

Would using a different nitrite still give isopropyl nitrite?

[edw1nhack]

Is it possible to chlorinate the isopropyl nitrite?

[BRIAN928S]

It's the same as poppers (isopropyl nitrite) except about 1/100th of the price.

[kamborian9]

so the final product is equal to a popper? if I sniff it would i get the same effect?

[tjiddles25]

hey man, nice video.

I have some questions cause I want to reproduce the experiment.

Your isopropanol(IPA) is blue(ish) why is that? I got some at work and it is colorless, is the blue color an additive from the supplier? please less me know cause I want to do it right:D (I can check the endresult on the GC-MS(gas chromatograph with mass spectrometry) but that is a lot of work and I want to avoid it by getting the ingredients right.

[Spennyization]

Could you tell me if Isopropyl Nitrite is a finished product?? OR tell me what the ingredients are. Might sound like a silly question but I have my reason. :)

[sillyboy9687]

the flame was beautiful in the end well done

[clarsach29]

great video, very clear and informative. of course, alkyl nitrites can also be prepared by simply bubbling NO2 gas (the orange gas) through the alcohol, and in fact the sodium/potassium nitrite plus acid are simply a way of generating this. one fast way to make the ester would be to mix diluted suphuric or hydrochloric acid with the alcohol (the alcohol will float on top) then drop small lumps of sodium nitrite into it...this generates many bubbles or NO2 which rise up through the alcohol=fast!

[tjiddles25]

@clarsach29 exellent comment, I used your method today and the endresult looks percfect. but my end-product is yellow (this fits in the descriptions I could find so I assume I used more pure isopropanol ) I will run it through the GC-MS tomorrow and see if we can find the compound.

[clarsach29]

@tjiddles25 i actually used isoamyl alcohol when I made mine too, and the colour was pale yellow when reaction complete...I guess isopropyl may give a slightly different shade of yellow

[alastormilodragovich]

Hi sr mabakken i've work with industrial ultra pure isopropyl nitrite wich looks like a yelow clear caremell color but your prodict looks like a greenish color , so i woul like to know how to increase the purity of the product or make it more pure with any acid residues

[JavAnarkoMet]

awesome work in your videos

stechiometry

1nano2 - 1NO2

1NO2 - 1 C3H7NO2

1 H2SO4 - 2 NO2

1 C3H7-OH - 1C3H7NO2

meaning: 1 mol of C3H7NO2 is produced by mixing 1mol of nano2 1mol of isopropyl alcohol and .5 mol of H2SO4

also water: just necesary

i made it already and if you use very satured solution the water will become hidrated Na2SO4 and almost no water milll remain as liquid , making easier to get the nitrite

and yes, it works better mixinx the nitrite and the isopropyl, i tryed.

[JavAnarkoMet]

is there some chanse that if you use nitrate instead nitrite, you get isopropil nitrate?(explosive)

[adriiPortillo]

@picmario Hello. How about zinc ? Zinc efectivelly reduces ferrocyanides. It could also work on iron atoms on the mitocondrial citocromes.

[xR0WDYx]

Nice work! Get yourself a sepratory funnel so you dont have be so careful with the needle :) You were fine with the rate of addition of sulfuric acd. The heat generated wont be enough to cause elimination of the isopropanol. Even if it was, propene would leave solution as a gas. I'll have to try that one out this week.

[xR0WDYx]

Nice work! Get yourself a sepratory funnel so you dont have be so careful with the needle :) You were fine with the rate of addition of sulfuric acd. The heat generated wont be enough to cause elimination of the isopropanol. Even if it was, propene would leave solution as a gas. I'll have to try that one out this week.

[Taylor3x]

what about if you mix alchohol and h2so4 in one flask, put it in a destilation aparathis on top of which is a driper with the hno2 and drip the hno2 in to the flask while destilating?would it yeild a purer product?

[anfokg]

How much intergiends?

[TooChill]

and maybe next vid he'll show us how to make DMT :D

[TooChill]

Poppers are nitrites..not nitrates, usually isobutyl, isopentyl, or cyclohexyl nitrite these days

[katiekawaii]

I don't understand though...why? Why would one do this?

[adriiPortillo]

i would really like to know why nitrities does not cause headaches like nitrates do. Both types of chemicals relases NO2 in the bloodstream, but nitrates the headache and nitriters dont.

[malgray2]

Quite a few people do get headaches from alkyl nitrites in fact.

[adriiPortillo]

yep... but thats my question... "why?"

both of them relase NO2...

[malgray2]

I think you would have to do a comparative study before you could conclude that there are significant differences between the two.

About a third of all people who try alkyl nitrites don't continue because of the headache.

What about the Nitrous Oxide huffers then? Do they get headaches?

[gentelmanBastard]

one more question: can u use pentanol instead of propanol?

[waskaman94]

could you use this same method too make isopropyl nitrate but use nano3 instead of nano2?

[wattapassa]

theoretically, yes, if you calculate it with the new molar mass

[Taylor3x]

nano2 and h2so4 produce hno2 because you cant get it is the best way to get it ... if you want to use nano3 it would be a waste. you simply use hno3.

[KRIGSSV1N]

@waskaman94 no

[Coldm1nd]

It's alkyl nitrITE, not nitrATE. Though you can always make kitrate to nitrite decomposition, just heat it well enough. 2NaNO3 -> (therm.) 2NaNO2 + O2

[MDHmodder]

sounds like this would be very handy in synthesis of other nitrates.

[donnelrj01]

Seeing as this is the synthesis of a nitrite...

[biomercury]

does anybody knows if Sulfuric acid may be substituted by HCl or other acid??/ Does the only one that I could find in my lab!! I will appreciate your response

[Glasfaserleitung]

Yes, you can use Hydrochloric acid instead.

[AnonymousUploads]

Indeed, in fact on larger batches its easier to use hydrochloric for consistency reasons.

[Butandiolmonoacrylat]

You need an acid, which dehydrates the alcohol. thats it, while the nitrite can react with the propanol.

[asteriscotriangulado]

hi, i need to know the exact amounts of each ingredient that i have to use.

i like isobutyl nitrite and i want to make it in my lab.

[SiliciumScience]

can it be an eksplosive???

[AnonymousUploads]

Only if you disperse it and provide it with a shockwave at the correct fuel/air ratio, which is pretty tricky. Dispersal needs to be quite fine, which means using a brisant high explosive burster, and the timing between burster charge and initiation tends to be on the scale of 60-90 milliseconds, depending on the air ratio... Check out my video about it.

[Eynigma]

Would you consider it superior to aluminum for purely thermobaric purposes? As in for, say, an already aluminum-containing, oxidizer-rich mixture? Properly O2-balanced first, that is.

[SiliciumScience]

Ok thanks

[Eynigma]

So it really is that insensitive? I don't have the resources for this really (as far as full fuel/air). I see it mentioned as a detonable material, but apparently-if it is dispersed as you say and show in your video-it is only when dispersed. I've seen an article about aluminized mixes and was wondering-while they must be much less powerful-if they require conventional FAE timed initiating arrangements or if they can be strictly thermobaric in the self-contained sense?

[KRIGSSV1N]

@SiliciumScience no

[ivs1024]

Btw, without dye isopropyl has pale yellow color.

[ivs1024]

For those who try to do this reaction.

It's important to keep temperature lower then 0C and add acid very, _very_ slowly. When sulfuric acid reacts with NaNO2, HNO2 acid is produced. HNO2 is very unstable. If temperature higher then 0 or there are too much HNO2(when you add acid too fast) it dissociate to NO and NO2(orange gas):

2HNO2->NO+NO2+Н2О.

Be careful! Nitrous oxides are dangerous!

In this case you'll loose a lot of your isopropyl nitrite and remainder will smell like isopropyl alcohol.

[Glasfaserleitung]

I also want to know what happens if you use Potassium or Sodium Nitrate.

Isnt it dangerous to breath in the fumes of Isopropyl nitrit? How can you make Sodium azide out of it?

Can I heat Potassium Nitrate till it melts and till there are bubbles to get Potassium Nitrite? I would stop if there arent no more bubbles of oxigen. Does that work or does the Nitrite decompose too?

[CarnalDiafragma]

No the fume's aren't really dangerous, only thing is that your bloodpressure will drop a little.

You would probably like breathing these fumes, google for poppers :P

[CarnalDiafragma]

Sorry, should have watched the video first, it's actually explained :P

[mewrox99]

Poppers are nitrate not nitrite. Still Nitrite does causes a mild high

[CarnalDiafragma]

No, you are wrong, they are nitrites.

[ShiroTenryu]

damn troll

[Taylor3x]

@mewrox99 ha ha ha

[Grundalizer]

Great job on all your videos, I am envious of your lab setup. Where did you get the procedures to do all of these experiments? A really good book? Or mostly just the internet?

[megafeltch]

if i used NaNO3 would it make

isopropyl nitrate

[cntryguy20007]

can "quick cure" be used as a source of Sodium Nitrite? It's only 6.25% Sodium NItrite and the rest is sodium Chloride (table salt). How would I adjust the recipie or is it worth trying?

[atomic7732]

you would probably need at least 75% Sodium nitrite

[Daisar1]

Is there a really big matter what is my sulfuric acid concertration?

[LeshracVNN]

You add the acid WAY too fast, which is easily observed by the orange fumes.

Also, it's better to add the alcohol directly to the sodium nitrite solution and THEN to add sulfuric acid drop-wise while stirring.

Finally, didn't you rip that off from WS or DFI ? It's almost the same synthesis, word for word.

[mabakken]

I would appreciate it if you would give me constructive feedback, instead of focusing all your attention on the things that I did wrong.

I don't know what WS or DFI is, but I got it from a guy named Vogel. And I'm pretty sure WS and DFI got it from him (or some of his friends) too.

[maxx1231]

@mabakken well, i think that actually was constructive criticism from LeshracVNN . He didnt insult you, only corrected you.

[ballonman124]

@LeshracVNN I kind of hate to butt in but first of all regardless of copyrighting this could be a very handy chemical if it is truly a antidote for cyanide poisoning. Second of all even if Mabakken knew he was copyrighting almost word for word does not break any restrictions.

[19Hinrichs]

@LeshracVNN cry more u homo

[sciencoking]

what are you going to do with the isopropyl nitrite? ;-)

[patrikasLTL]

*sniff*

*Q* LLLLEEEEERRRRROOOOOYYYYY !1!!!

[megafeltch]

cool

will it burn faster if it was further oxidised to a nitrate

[mabakken]

You are absolutely right, picmario, but you can actually still find IPN in First- Aid Cyanide Poisoning kits.

[glenwoofit]

@mabakken I worked around sodium cyanide at a local chemical plant and they had the nitrate in a vile in what looked like a cigerette you'd break the vile inside the tube and inhale while mixing to other chemicals in a beaker that you had to drink. The nitrate gave your heart a boost and kept it beating while the cyanide was going through your veins then you drank the liquid and it made you vomit and shit yourself at the same time to empty your system and get everything out. Not a nice cure, lol

[glenwoofit]

@mabakken I used to work around Sodium Cyanide and this was stuff was all around the plant in what looked like ciggerettes you'd bend the tube and inhale it to keep your heart beating cause cyanide slows your heart down till it stops, While you were inhaling the stuff you'd mix 2 chemicals into a beaker and drink the solution which made you vomit and poo yourself to rid yourself of the cyanide, (Hopefully) I think the cure is worse than the death, lol....

[willvahle]

oh, and what would the shelf life/storage conditions be on this?

[willvahle]

I've got a pretty solid backing in Chemistry but 2 quick questions:

1. What would a regular dosage be, and how would one take it?

2. What would the dosage be for Cyanide Poisoning?

[zasx20]

is isopropanol isoprople alchohal?

[Nordurorka]

I agree with Ancif, you are my favorite "Chemistry user" As for Ancif Q,

Sodium Nitrate104 gr

H2O200 ml

H2SO437 ml

H2O250 ml

Iso Butanol125 ml

As for cleening the product i found that putting it in the freezer for 48h gives you a ultrapure product. Just do not disturb the crap that settles on the bottom of your flask as it is frozen.

[Ancif]

Hi mabakken,

you are my favourite "chemistry user" on youtube.

Can you send me ratio for this reaction? I was calculate 100ml H2SO4 (96%), 238g NaNO2, 216 ml IPA (99%).

Thanx and sorry form my not very good english

[dolcerok]

is that home made poppers? :D

[darkcurrent]

Where's the sep. funnel?

No purification? No washing (sep. funnel) or column?

Your identification is crude. I'm not asking for HNMR or even IR, but a simple TLC against a pure product.

Are you a graduate student? post-doc?

[mabakken]

I did not include the purification steps as the crude product is as effective as the pure product in this matter. Also, any by- product are non- hazardous.

[darkcurrent]

You're looking at this from the "I'm going to burn it perspectives" but kids who go online and search for poppers will think, hey, I'm gonna try and make some. At least in country's where possession is legal but supply is not, eg germany or where both are illegal, eg US.

Thanks for replying though

[shutupandshit]

No, supply is illegal in the US, but possession and use is not. =)

mabakken, I have a job teaching kids about chemistry, and I have used your procedures for these demos extensively and appreciate your work that you put into these videos, it's being put to good use!

For this synthesis, what quantities by mass do you use? I've done

[shutupandshit]

No, supply is illegal in the US, but possession and use is not. =)

mabakken, I have a job teaching kids about chemistry, and I have used your procedures for these demos extensively and appreciate your work that you put into these videos, it's being put to good use!

For this synthesis, what quantities by mass do you use? I've done

[shutupandshit]

my own stoichiometric calculations, and so far they've worked out well for me with a pretty high percent yield and a bona fide purity, I was just interested in cross referencing against what you had.

Again, I appreciate your work, THANKS.

[liquidgrain]

i never knew of this before,i am perfectly willing to try it.i only have one question,may the sodium nitrate be substituted with potassium nitrate,please respond.

[mabakken]

Actually, neither Sodium nor Potassium Nitrate can be used, but both Sodium and Potassium NitrITE can be used =)

That is: Not Nitrate (NO3-) But Nitrite (NO2-)

[liquidgrain]

i'm sorry,bad mistake on my part,either way I have both nitrITEs in stock,but only potassium nitRATE.

btw,thank you for not calling me retarded,stupid,or ignorent;)and pointing out my mistakes

[mabakken]

No worries...everyone makes mistakes. I would never condescend you in any way, nor should anyone else.

[liquidgrain]

you are a total chemistry god:)

[Daisar1]

Scharlau´s chemicals?

[mabakken]

Riedel de Haën =)

[Daisar1]

What that means in English?

[mabakken]

It is just the brand name =)

[reevejohn]

Great Video.

NYC EMS agencies have been carrying AlKyl Nitrites for years as part of there cyanide antidote kit [or MARK I kit].

We also carry Hydroxocobalamin and Sodium Thiosulfate.

If you get exposed to cyanide how do you take the Nitrite? I'm pretty sure you're not going to inject that.

[mabakken]

The Nitrite inhalant is just as a temporary antidote. I friend of mine once got a pretty heavy dose of Hydrogen Cyanide, and I had to inject him with a 1mg/ml dose of NaNO2, intra venously.

To answer your question: the nitrite prepared in this video is an inhalant. If you were to inject this stuff, your veins would corrode away :S

[reevejohn]

Thank You. Excellent.

[differens]

what are the amounts you used in this video? how much isopropyl nitrite did you get from this reaction?

[mabakken]

The reactants were mixed in a stoichiometric ratio. The yeild was ca 20 ml.

[differens]

thanks for quick response!

[crazyboy0602]

interesting i guess but why make it? i mean its just used as an inhalant to get kinda high it doesn't have any interesting properties and it isn't a precursor to anything...

[mabakken]

I agree, but the reason why I made this video is just to show how to make an ester from Nitrous acid. Also, it is good to know that when I handle cyanides, it's good to have the antidote around :)

[nulladiessine]

i thought that the antidote 4 the cyanides is mythelen blue,isnt it?

[mabakken]

That is correct, but that is also among the three main types of antidotes for cyanide posoning:

Alkyl Nitrite, Methylene blue and Sodium thiosulfate!

[coc2coc]

May i ask which kind of dye you used?

[mabakken]

To be honest I don't remember! It is a while since I did this experiment, and I have used up the dye! It might have been Methylene blue! I'm sorry I can't give you a proper answer!

[RammsteinUrLife07]

Great, but you could talk more about the chemistry of the reaction itself...

[mabakken]

Thank you for your constructive criticism, but could you be more specific on what you think is missing?