question_answer

The reaction of an organic compound with ammonia followed by nitration of the product gives a powerful explosive, called RDX. The organic compound is :

A)  phenol                                

B)  toluene

C)  glycerine                            

D)  formaldehyde

Correct Answer: D

Solution :

Formaldehyde with ammonia gives a medicinal compound hexamethylene tetramine (urotropine), which on nitration gives one of the most powerful explosive, named cyclonite or \[RDX\] \[6HCHO+4N{{H}_{4}}\xrightarrow{{}}\underset{\begin{smallmatrix}  Urotropine\text{ }or \\  Hexamethylene\text{ }tetramine \end{smallmatrix}}{\mathop{{{(C{{H}_{2}})}_{6}}{{N}_{4}}+6{{H}_{2}}O}}\,\]