spot on.


For anyone who really wants to get confused, try this one... Nitromethane (NO2-CH3) is BOTH, an oxidizer AND a fuel. The molecule itself contains both parts of a reaction, and as such it is real nasty deal once you hit the energy of combustion. The methane solvent used in most Nitromethane solutions is actually the more volitile/flamable part of the solution when at room temperature (95% nitro used in top fuel is less resistant to combustion than 5% nitro used in RC cars)... but once the reactions kick off, the exothermic nature catalyzes things something fierce. Flame fronts in nitro combustion travel MUCH faster than in gasoline and the shock wave is much worse... but complete combustion takes 3 or 4 reactions (can't recall right now)... the last one of which is fairly slow compared to the others. That last reaction is what you see when flames are shooting out a top-fuel car's headers.

Very cool chemistry involved in that one. Last interesting stat? 90% of the Nitromethane produced in the US goes to Industry for use as a reactant or solvent. 10% goes to automotive or receational uses... those career chemists get all the fun I guess.

 

alrighty then,learn something new everyday.

 

Man this whole thread could have ended with this one. Great answer.




P.S.
Sorry for running off on that one, chemistry doesn't pop up on here very often...