Color of Nitro-Methane

[DixonFan]

What is the color of the Nitro that the teams use in Top Fuel Category? I have searched but get different answers to the question. Can someone chime in here and let me know?

Thanks,
Shannon

 

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[flapjack]

I believe nitro is actually colorless. The yellow color you see above is due to an indicator they add to it that will turn blue once the nitro becomes unstable. From http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=16448.5;wap2,

If it's contaminated by an amine or a base, the nitro forms an azide (as I remember), becomes shock sensitive, and could blow up

 

[Huge]

That's right Tom. If it turns blue, then it is unstable.

 

[DixonFan]

That's right Tom. If it turns blue, then it is unstable.

How often does that happen @Eugene Gray ??

 

[Huge]

How often does that happen @Eugene Gray ??

I have never seen it happen, but VP Fuel and Homeland security has put on a class on Wed at the Winternatonals the past few years and it was manditory that one crew member from each team had to attend. They show a slideshow, and unstable nitro was one of the subjects they talked about. You never want to put nitro in a container that has had soap in it because some soaps have something in them that can make nitro unstable, but if it does become unstable then you need to dilute it with twice it's volume of methanol and then call an 800 number for chemtrec. I won't know if they are doing it again this year, until i get to Pomona.