Ethyl nitrate

Not to be confused with nitroethane or ethyl nitrite.

Ethyl nitrate

Skeletal formula of ethyl nitrate
Ball-and-stick model of the ethyl nitrate molecule
Names
IUPAC name Ethyl nitrate
Other names Nitric acid ethyl ester
Identifiers
CAS Number	625-58-1 Y
ChemSpider	11756 N
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
PubChem	12259
InChI InChI=1S/C2H5NO3/c1-2-6-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3 N Key: IDNUEBSJWINEMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N N InChI=1/C2H5NO3/c1-2-6-3(4)5/h2H2,1H3 Key: IDNUEBSJWINEMI-UHFFFAOYAM
SMILES CCO[N+](=O)[O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	C2H5NO3
Molar mass	91.07 g/mol
Appearance	colorless liquid
Density	1.10g/cm3
Melting point	−102 °C (−152 °F; 171 K)
Boiling point	87.5 °C (189.5 °F; 360.6 K)
Solubility in water	Decomposes
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Related compounds
Related Alkyl nitrates	Methyl nitrate Ethylene glycol dinitrate Isopropyl nitrate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Ethyl nitrate is the ethyl ester of nitric acid and has the chemical formula C₂H₅NO₃. It is a colourless, volatile, highly flammable liquid. It is used in organic synthesis and as an intermediate in the preparation of some drugs, dyes, and perfumes.

Ethyl nitrate is found in the atmosphere, where it can react with other gases to form smog. Originally thought to be a pollutant, formed mainly by the combustion of fossil fuels, recent analysis of ocean water samples reveal that in places where cool water rises from the deep, the water is saturated with alkyl nitrates, likely formed by natural processes.

Preparation

Ethyl nitrate has been prepared by bubbling gaseous nitryl fluoride through ethanol at −10 °C. The reaction was subsequently studied in detail.