Red fuming nitric acid
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2008-02-20T20:51:57Z
198.53.153.247
"Cf" confusion removed
'''Red fuming nitric acid''' ('''RFNA''') is a storable [[oxidizer]] used as a [[rocket fuel]]. It consists mainly of [[nitric acid]] ({{hydrogen}}{{nitrogen}}{{oxygen}}<sub>3</sub>), also containing 13% [[dinitrogen tetroxide]] and 3% [[water]]. The [[color]] of the resulting red fuming nitric acid is due to the dinitrogen tetroxide, which breaks down partially to form [[nitrogen dioxide]]. [[White fuming nitric acid]] does not contain free dinitrogen tetroxide.
It is usually used with an [[Corrosion inhibitor|inhibitor]] (with various, sometimes secret, substances, including [[hydrogen fluoride]]; any such combination is called '''IRFNA''') because nitric acid attacks most container materials.
It can also be a [[monopropellant]]; with substances like [[ammonium nitrate]]s dissolved in it, it can be used as the sole fuel in a rocket. It is not normally used this way however.
During [[World War II]], the German military used RFNA in some rockets. The mixtures used were called '''S-Stoff''' (96% nitric acid with 4% [[ferric chloride]]) and '''SV-Stoff''' (94% nitric acid with 6% dinitrogen tetroxide).
Inhibited RFNA, used in [[Al Hussein|modified SS-1 Scud]] missiles as an oxidizer by the Iraqi military during the 1991 Persian [[Gulf War]], was suggested as a possible factor causing [[Gulf War Syndrome]]. However, this theory was later refuted.
==Compositions==
*'''IRFNA IIIa''': 83.4% [[nitric acid|HNO<sub>3</sub>]], 14% [[nitrogen dioxide|NO<sub>2</sub>]], 2% [[water (molecule)|H<sub>2</sub>O]], 0.6% [[hydrogen fluoride|HF]]
*'''IRFNA IV HDA''': 54.3% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 44% NO<sub>2</sub>, 1% H<sub>2</sub>O, 0.7% HF
*'''S-Stoff''': 96% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 4% [[ferric chloride|FeCl<sub>3</sub>]]
*'''SV-Stoff''': 94% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 6% [[dinitrogen tetroxide|N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>]]
*'''AK20''': 80% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 20% N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>
*'''AK20F''': 80% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 20% N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, fluorine-based inhibitor
*'''AK20I''': 80% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 20% N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, iodine-based inhibitor
*'''AK20K''': 80% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 20% N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, unknown inhibitor
*'''AK27I''': 73% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 27% N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, iodine-based inhibitor
*'''AK27P''': 73% HNO<sub>3</sub>, 27% N<sub>2</sub>O<sub>4</sub>, unknown inhibitor
==Related==
* [[White fuming nitric acid]]
==External links==
*[http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/65.html National Pollutant Inventory - Nitric Acid Fact Sheet]
* http://www.astronautix.com/props/nitidjpx.htm
[[Category:Rocket oxidizers]]
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[[de:RFNA]]
[[ja:赤煙硝酸]]
[[ru:Красная дымящаяся азотная кислота]]
[[fi:RFNA]]