In a 600-mL beaker, add 400 mL of white nitric acid and cool to below 5°C in a salt-ice bath. White nitric acid is made by adding a small amount of urea to fuming nitric acid then blowing dry air into the acid until it is colorless. 100 g of finely ground pentaerythritol is slowly added to the acid while stirring, keeping the temperature below 5°C. After all of the pentaerythritol has been added, the stirring and cooling are continued for 15 minutes. The mixture is then dumped in about 3 L of ice water. The crude product that should have formed is filtered to collect it, washed with water, and submerged in 1 L of hot 0.5% sodium carbonate solution for 1 hour. The crystals are again collected on a filter, washed with water, and allowed to dry. These washings are important to remove all traces of acid. To obtain a pure product, dissolve the crystals in hot acetone, allow to cool, then add an equal volume of water as you have of acetone. Filter to collect the crystals, wash with water, and allow 24 hours to dry. You will need a graduated cylinder for measuring liquids, a stirring rod or magnetic stirrer for mixing, and a thermometer to monitor the temperature.
