Interesting and complicate carbon/nitrogen compounds?

[Town Watch]

Blah, I have to do this chemistry paper for tomorrow, describe the compound, its practical uses in everyday life, molecular formula etc.

It can be a natural one, or industrially manufactured one.

The complicate part was mainly because the teacher doesn't want 30 papers on ethanol or something... Maybe a bit longer molecular chain or something.

I just can't think of anything interesting

metals would have been more fun, but...

Any suggestions?

[C.M.]

You could do it on Calcium Phosphide, it has the cool property of igniting when in contact with water. It's used in torpedoes, fireworks and killing rodents. It's also one of the possible ingredients in the recipe for Greek fire.

[Town Watch]

urgh can you think of any cool compounds involving carbon or nitrogen?

[Hjalmar]

Pyridine

It's particularly interesting because it's extremely carcinogenic for men but relatively benign for women to handle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyridine

[Town Watch]

hmm I think i'll do something about chemical weapons/battle gases

they are a plenty...

[Gram -ve]

How about lignin? It is a very complicated molecule that helps provide strength in wood (also responsible for why brown paper bags are brown).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignin

[Town Watch]

Thanks, but I've already written the paper, about VX nerve agent.

Umm does it have any other practical uses other than in missiles, bombs and other weapons?

[Gram -ve]

Thanks, but I've already written the paper, about VX nerve agent.

Umm does it have any other practical uses other than in missiles, bombs and other weapons?

No idea, though I doubt a nerve agent would have much use outside of killing people..

[Town Watch]

yea, you know the movie The Rock. It says that the VX gas was first used as a parasite agent.

Now that I read the wikipedia article, it looks like it wouldn't work against any bugs or anything. It somehow blocks the function of a certain enzyme which causes uncontrollable muscle contractions and suffocation.

[allthesedamnnamesaretaken]

I suggest you write an article on one of these, and pick one with a really disgusting name. I'm sure your teacher will appreciate it:
http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/sillymolecules/sillymols.htm

[removeduser_426582376423734]

CH3COOH. Ethanol.

[Darth Wong]

HCN. Hydrogen cyanide.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

Just realised you don't want ethanol. For a long one, why not something like poly-vinyl-chloride (PVC)?

[Darth Wong]

Fun fact: almost all explosives are made of the magic foursome, C N O H.

RDX is C3H6N6O6. TNT is C7H5N3O6. RDX is not as well-known as TNT, except when it's mixed with plasticizers and oils to make something called C-4.

Second fun fact: high explosives would still work in an oxygen-free environment, because they include their own oxygen.

[DisgruntledGoat]

I did a project like this in high school. I did mine on nitroglycerin. The project also included having to do a model of the compound.