Question

Which of the following compounds have high heat of formation? (i) b-(2,3,4) trinitrotoluene  (ii) a-(2,4,6) trinitrotoluene .

(a) (i) b-(2,3,4) trinitrotoluene

(b) (ii) a-(2,4,6) trinitrotoluene

(c) Both are equal

(d) Only (ii) a-(2,4,6) Dinitrotoluene

The question was posed to me during an interview for a job.

I need to ask this question from Thermodynamics of Nitration in section Nitration of Unit Processes

Answer 1

The correct choice is (b) (ii) a-(2,4,6) trinitrotoluene

Easiest explanation: a-(2,4,6) trinitrotoluene has the highest heat of formation because it is quite stable without any stain within the molecules, and has low internal energy.