Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Chemistry => Topic started by: Quantum_Vaccuum on 24/09/2007 05:30:16

Title: If you mix liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, what happens?
Post by: Quantum_Vaccuum on 24/09/2007 05:30:16
I heard somewhere that when you mix liquid O2and liquid Nitrogen, you get a substance that if it is heated enough, it will burn at very high temperatures, like 5000°F. Could that possibly be the same substance used to fuel space shuttles?
Title: Re: If you mix liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, what happens?
Post by: eric l on 24/09/2007 09:31:50
My first thought was that you were way of the mark, but then I vaguely remembered a process.  After some search, I could trace it back :  the Birkeland-Eyde process  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birkeland-Eyde_process)  It was used at one time for making fertilizers, but is rather inefficient.  It is replaced now by the Ostwald process, using catalysts and running at much lower temperatures.
The rocket fuel you refer to will be liquid hydrogen rather than liquid nitrogen.
Title: Re: If you mix liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, what happens?
Post by: lightarrow on 24/09/2007 15:04:36
I heard somewhere that when you mix liquid O2and liquid Nitrogen, you get a substance that if it is heated enough, it will burn at very high temperatures, like 5000°F. Could that possibly be the same substance used to fuel space shuttles?
Maybe you referred to hypergolics?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergolic
Title: Re: If you mix liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen, what happens?
Post by: Bored chemist on 24/09/2007 20:22:42
If you mix liquid oxygen and liquid nitrogen yuo will get liquid air. Not very exciting.