A white crystalline chemical compound made from formaldehyde and ammonia, used as a fuel tablet and disinfectant.
From Greek 'hex-' (six) + 'amine' (a chemical compound containing nitrogen). The name reflects its chemical structure with six carbon atoms bonded to nitrogen-containing groups.
Hexamine tablets were the original camping fuel—soldiers in World War II used them to heat rations in tiny metal stoves that fit in a pocket, making it one of the most elegant solutions to field cooking before modern gas canisters existed.
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