> chemistry > explosifs > making-sodium-5-5-azotetrazole-from-5-atz-extractions-ire

Making Sodium 5,5'-AzoTetrazole From 5-Atz

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-17

Join the discord here: https://discord.gg/czUvac
We turn 5-AminoTetrazole into 5,5'-AzoTetrazole (the di-Sodium salt) using KMnO4,  following the write-up by Engager in 'Energetic Derivatives of Tetrazoles'
https://sciencemadness.org/scipics/Energetic_Derivatives_Of_Tetrazole.pdf

We don't do it on the 50 gram scale that Engager does... and that turns out to be a good decision in the end

My Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ExplosionsandFire
Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ExplosionsAndFire/

Richard Purves - 2018-11-17

You see that many nitrogen atoms in a ring and you want to run away. Very fast.

Tom Hewitt - 2020-01-01

Only if you synthesise a nitrotetrazole with an electron withdrawing group

Marcia Osullivan - 2020-02-07

Imagine if the Na was NO2

Jacek T - 2020-07-07

Like 5000m/s fast

Yung G - 2021-09-28

@Richard Purves i honestly think that ClF3 may be the worst chemical to exist... literally all the no no’s. Oxidizes anything, literally turns water into oxygen on contact.... reacts explosively with practically everything and stuff thats even fireproof like asbestos. its also crazy toxic, and it will burn through materials like the ones in our floors and even the cement and sediment under our houses. it will melt straight through all of it, producing lovely HF and HCL gas in the process. only way to stop it is with nitrogen or argon. it reacts with traditional oxygen displacement chemicals like CO2 and Halon.

its one of the worst worst fluorinating agents, as-well as oxidants, its toxic, it sets everything on fire, it also explodes with a-lot of basic materials, its carcinogenic, you can only store it in a copper, nickel, or steel container because it forms a fluoride layer that wont explode. Theres even more about it but my comment would run out before i would be able to end it. but yeah ClF3 has set the bar HIGH. theres alot of nasty chemicals but i dont know if there will ever be this bad. majority of chemists never even wanna touch Hydrofluoric acid😂 imagine their thoughts about ClF3

Richard Purves - 2021-12-07

@Yung G And yet both ClF3 and HF have industrial uses. Although while you can find HF in any wheel rim repair place for stripping paint and road impurities from wheels, ClF3 is used in chip fabs for cleaning vapour deposition machines. (Jesus what vapours are they dealing with???)

Walter Bunn - 2018-11-20

Just a heads up on the permanganate, you can synthesize it from spent alkaline batteries very easily.

The hardest part of the synthesis is getting a good source of potassium ions, but even that shouldn't be impossible, considering permanganate reactions are actually one way proposed to separate potassium from sodium ions.

You probably don't want to start with black battery powder mixed with wood ash in a stainless steel pot, but i don't think that method would be impossible either.
Make a wood ash solution. Boil it, filter it, and the freeze distill it to jack the potassium content (that is to say, make a lye slushie and throw away the iced part. the liquid has the potassium in it).
Wash the spent battery powder with a little hydrogen peroxide and allow it to dry in between rinses.
When you're ready to get your potassium permanganate, put your battery powder (aka Manganese dioxide) into a stainless steel pot, add some distilled water based on the weight of the manganese dioxide and heat.
Then slowly add your enriched lye solution dropwise to the water slurry. After it's added let it "Simmer" for 30 minutes then filter your solution and allow it to cool.
The permanganate drops out of solution and begins to crystallize out.

At any rate, you'll want to do a couple of recrystallizations at a minimum to ensure the purity of your product.

GerSHAK - 2020-04-06

+

Ryan Witt - 2022-01-29

..

Boring Old White Guy - 2019-08-09

I am shocked and baffled that you would use something so inherently unsafe as yellow gloves. As we all know yellow=BAD!!!!!! You took one helluva risk wearing them.

GerSHAK - 2020-04-06

+

transkryption - 2021-11-02

Do they make white grape flavour?

James Ashons - 2018-11-17

I love this channel so much. It's truly underrated 😑

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

Glad you like it mate

Californium-252 - 2020-01-30

Thanks for using 😑, it looks like you hate this channel.

HoboSammiches O - 2018-11-17

This is incredible teaching. I need more of this in my life because you make it very to the point and simple to follow along with

terawattyear - 2018-11-18

Nice explanation of the naming convention. I like the complementary color contrast between purple and yellow. Chroma chemistry. Powerful resulting product too.

Nigel Johnson - 2018-11-17

Did you check the shock sensitivity before you started shaking it in the storage jar, or is it just that eight fingers and two thumbs seem rather too many for any one person?

Nigel Johnson - 2020-06-11

@Dani Syx it is you who are being unreasonable. I asked a perfectly reasonable question: if it was his practice to research all aspects of the chemical being made.
Given the nature of some of these chemicals, it is reasonable to question their safety when large crystals are involved. There are a number of ways in which the compound might be induced to detonate, including static electricity. Shaking a jar of a powerful primary explosive held in the hand is not best practice, particular when the purity of the chemical is unknown.

Dani Syx - 2020-06-11

@Nigel Johnson This is an experienced chemist making something he understands the synthesis of it stands to reason he probably checked that s*** while reading the synthesis now doesn't it? Learn to think dude it's not hardYou've got this giant organ in your cranium that does that for you All you have to do is shut up and let it. It equally stands to reason that if they've read the scientific papers they've read the literature they know how to make this thing they also know whether or not it's going to be unstable or not now doesn't it?they know what they're making they know how to make it What makes you think they wouldn't understand the f**** sensitivity? not to mention every f**** video shows testing procedures that you just don't understand he frequently measures s*** out in milligram doses That's what the can tests are That's what he's doing with the foil because you don't understand it does not mean he doesn't understand it also you're talking to a f**** chemist although I enjoy organic chemistry more now get the f*** off my porch Go play with your computers Go read some s*** inform yourself learn to learn learn to think

Nigel Johnson - 2020-06-11

@Dani Syx the only thing you have shown is that you have a proficiency in profanity, which does not necessarily correlate with any understanding of chemistry. You are making many assumptions about how well this particular chemical has been characterised in the literature. You are making a great deal out of a relatively unimportant comment. This suggest that you are more of a troll than a chemist. The risks of handling a primary explosive are clear. Even professional chemists working in fully equipped labs have been in involved in accidental explosions. it is arrogant people!e like you that lose limbs or are killed or get other people killed. The quantity involved was small, but sufficient to blow off a hand. In the video, no mention was made about the compounds sensitivity to shock, friction or static, particularly when in the form of large crystals. I simply asked a question in a humorous fashion, I did not make a statement. Now it is time for you to shut up.

ReactiveChem - 2020-07-01

Nigel Johnson omg this is such funny argument but just to put in my opinion, ur right, better safe than sorry. It is true that the sodium ion produces very powerful energetics and you should always pay ultimate respect to any explosive no matter the sensitivity. However for this compound if you crystallize it into its pentahydrate form it is practically insensitive to friction/shock and again due to the water molecules the sensitivity to static is also practically none. However getting rid of the hydrate through heat will lead to instability and will most likely lead to detonation through moderate shock or static as you would expect tetrazoles bridged by an azo group you be.

Dani Syx - 2020-07-01

@ReactiveChem personally I prefer organic chemistry certain amines are always good for a laugh or a spiritual experience....

MetallicaLife4 - 2020-01-09

"It still seems to get angery when it gets added to the solution.."
well, yeah.. it's permanganate xD

Matt Brunton - 2021-01-03

Perm-anger-nate

Chemistry of Questionable Quality - 2021-04-29

I have ten pounds of odd anger nate

Michael - 2018-11-17

I love this channel. ❤ Fantastic work.

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

💓💓 I ain't afraid to return the heart, hell yeah, thanks for the love

Random Experiments Int. - Experiments and syntheses - 2018-11-21

Nice to see another video! That's a very scary compound, but interesting!

Dalitas D - 2018-11-17

Nothing should have this much nitrogen?
Also
THAT'S A LOT OF NITROGEN!

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

We going for more nitrogen Fam

Charles Kogan - 2019-07-29

Um... Pentazole?

Atlas WalkedAway - 2020-08-23

So my final question is, if each of those nitrogens has three bonds available, why not just just stitch together those nitrogens that carry the sodiums?

Schatten2712 - 2018-11-22

I'm not gonna make more explosives... I'm not gonna make more explosives... I'M NOT GONNA MAKE MORE EXPLOSIVES
-Makes more explosives
<3 you man keep up the awesome work!

Chemistry'sCuriosities Cannagorilla - 2018-11-17

awesome bro! I love Tetrazole chemistry

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

It's so fascinating! I love it too, some of my favourite chemistry I've ever done

Chemistry'sCuriosities Cannagorilla - 2019-06-24

Which has more brisance, the Na(N4C-NO2)2 (Na,5-ATZ) or the Sodium 5,5’-azotetrazole?

Jeffrey Schultz - 2020-01-17

Did you try reducing the azo group with Mg/H2O to 5,5'-hydrazinebistetrolate (hbt)?

Chinmay Joshi - 2020-06-12

can we make like a nitrosyl salt of this? that would be REALLY energetic.

mrmax35 - 2018-11-18

Not sure what the photo isomerization life time is, but can you convert it to the cis isomer with UV light and compare the energetic properties of cis vs. trans? Maybe UV alone will make it detonate,

MrTheSmoon - 2021-06-19

11:15 i love the surprise at C2N10 being a very sensitive explosive

JamesG - 2018-11-18

A very pleasing result! Thanks.

Chris Sutherland - 2018-11-17

Love the vids! Keep em coming and play safe!(ish)

John Doe - 2021-03-25

I wonder if something could be added to make the crystals larger or smaller (besides water)

lol broek - 2021-12-21

I would love to see that big ass crystal go in like super slow-mo, imagine the slow mo guys filming it.

Liyuan Zhang - 2021-03-24

inspiring. may i know if 5-Amino-1H-tetrazole would explode when heat it up to 400 C in Ar atmosphere?

Californium-252 - 2020-01-30

Na azotetrazole is explosive.
Make more Na azotetrazole and convert it to Ag(I) azotetrazole.

Dwayne the 'Rock-Hard' Johnson - 2020-04-14

I’m super curious how big you can get those crystals

Dwayne the 'Rock-Hard' Johnson - 2020-04-14

Admittedly, this curiously can almost CERTAINLY kill the proverbial cat, but it’s still there

Yextus - 2018-11-22

*Watching this while distilling some HNO3*
9:34
*Looks over and sees yellow, dissolved NO3
"Shit"

R Johnson - 2019-01-15

Awesome video!

Achyuth - 2020-08-07

Could hydrogen peroxide be used to neutralise the potassium permanganate

chris jones - 2018-11-18

A teflon beaker would be useful

TheDerpy Kitty - 2019-10-05

If we ever get an easy way to make pentazole, will you make that? Assuming you still have your YouTube channel by then

pineapple ‎ - 2018-11-17

Any information on tetrazole toxicity?

Charles Kogan - 2019-08-30

Quite toxic.

fake name - 2018-11-18

those are some beautiful (and terrifying) crystals at the end

rob morgan - 2019-07-27

But...
The product is YELLOW!

Jaycob Whaley - 2020-07-28

throws lab in trash

Idubbbz Fatfather - 2019-12-14

Please drop more videos my man

Brandon Fitzgerald - 2019-03-03

Your videos are sooooo underrated haha

JeanLafitte - 2019-09-11

I miss being able to buy stuff like potassium permanganate at the local pharmacy. Chloroform's about the riskiest thing pharmacies here will sell to mere amateur chemists here in the US.

JeanLafitte - 2019-09-11

Oddly, when I was a kid, my family's "Young People's Science Encyclopedia" had a step-by-step prodcedure for making a model volcano using KMnO4 added to a little glycerine for the sparks, fumes and small fires in your papier-mache volcano at Science Fair.

Extractions&Ire - 2019-09-12

Hey being able to buy chloroform OTC is pretty cool, you can't do that anywhere here in Aus.

JeanLafitte - 2019-09-12

@Extractions&Ire What you can/cannot buy OTC in various countries is close to voodoo. When I lived in England a few months, my spinal arthritis was relieved by hydrocodone, which I could buy OTC there, but is strictly prescription-only and part of a moral panic in the US. A friend of mine, a retiring older woman, took in cats and dogs and needed a short-actiing anaesthetic to calm injured animals down while she tended their wounds shocked me by the 500 ml bottle of chloroform the druggists sold her for the job, totally without a prescription.

The Double K - 2022-01-07

Even worse in Europe. Here, even standard reagents like sulfuric acid or pure, anhydrous Acetone are simply not obtainable for non-professionals and private purposes.

Humberto Diaz Suarez - 2019-11-29

The quote on your shirt is an amazing line from an amazing movie, hah! Still remember that scene.

Meneltir - 2018-11-17

That OTC KMnO4 is about 20 times the online (reagent grade) price. Just the tiniest bit of a robbery in broad daylight.

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

$17 / 20 = 85cents... There's nowhere I can get 50g KMnO4 for less than a dollar....
Ok sure if you buy a lot, the price per gram goes down. But everyone saying that they have 2 kilos ect.... Why do you need so much! It doesn't even keep all that well

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

Also maybe, with the ozone generator, I can just make my own! (Or, the ozone might replace a lot of the permanganate uses??)

Meneltir - 2018-11-18

@Extractions&Ire I ordered 1kg from Poland for 32 PLN (8.5 USD), because pyrotechnics and also it's just useful. Same company (Warchem) sells 50g jars for around 80 US cents - benefits of living in Europe I guess.

JamesG - 2018-11-18

@Extractions&Ire: Just for info, my 2kg of KMnO4 cost $38, was a hardware store purchase, and is meant as an iron filter regenerant for greensand filters.

https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/resource/frequently-asked-questions/about-greensand-filters/
Similar product:
https://www.discountfilterstore.com/pro-products-kp02n-greensand-iron-filter-regenerant.html

Alex D. - 2020-02-14

How about Ammonium 5,5'-AzoTetrazole? :D

The Gayest Person on YouTube - 2018-11-17

Using KMnO4 gives me that Dolmio grin

Extractions&Ire - 2018-11-18

It took me about 12 hours to understand this comment but yes. If my family wasn't as lazy and we made our own pasta sauce from scratch, my lab would be nowhere near what it is now

The Gayest Person on YouTube - 2018-11-18

Extractions&Ire it’s the little things that really add up over time

JeanLafitte - 2019-09-12

@Extractions&Ire I saw the Dolmio bottle cap on your bench, and wondered just what it was. Thanks for the explanation, now I don't have to spend the night wondering "Is it something like vegemite?"

Thomas Africa - 2021-03-15

I came for the fire and accidentally learned something awesome lol

NetherSand RO - 2020-03-15

"It's a bit big, but it will be allright" That was she said

19 liters - 2021-01-14

"thats umm.. alright, maybe I'll store the final product wet..."

JonnyMakesChemicals - 2020-09-11

im confused how much hydroxide you used and what is it even there for

Ormarion - 2021-05-13

me too

Jonathan Downs - 2021-10-31

Potassium Permanganate is easy to get at your local chemist, if expensive. You normally find it on the shelf just above the glycerol.

Jonathan Schwartz-Redfox - 2022-03-03

Nice one!

doyale - 2018-11-17

This will be great

CoolTrucko - 2021-03-19

Yes I'm on a list .

A list of absolute Chads

Charles Kogan - 2019-07-29

Just curious about the music, I really like it. Where is it from?

Mushious - 2021-10-14

Haven't even started the video yet, first thoughts upon seeing the thumbnail, "oh no, it's yellow."