C2H5ONO2

C2H5ONO2, also known as ethyl nitrate, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C2H5ONO2. It is the ethyl ester of nitric acid. It is a colorless liquid with a pungent odor and is volatile. Ethyl nitrate is flammable and can be explosive under certain conditions, particularly when heated or subjected to shock.

This compound is primarily used as an ingredient in some propellants and explosives due to its oxidizing properties. It has also been used in some medicinal applications, though this is less common today. In the past, it saw use as a vasodilator, similar to amyl nitrite, to treat angina.

Ethyl nitrate is synthesized by the esterification of ethanol with nitric acid, often in the presence of a dehydrating agent like sulfuric acid. The reaction requires careful control due to the potentially hazardous nature of the reactants and product. Decomposition of ethyl nitrate can produce toxic nitrogen oxides.