Nitroglycerin is an oily, colourless liquid, but also a high explosive that is so unstable that the slightest jolt, impact or friction can cause it to spontaneously detonate. It is the speed of the decomposition reaction which makes nitroglycerin such a violent explosive.
Why is nitroglycerin explosive chemistry?
Nitroglycerin, with the molecular formula C3H5(ONO2)3, has a high nitrogen content (18.5 percent) and contains sufficient oxygen atoms to oxidize the carbon and hydrogen atoms while nitrogen is being liberated, so that it is one of the most powerful explosives known.
What is nitroglycerin explosion?
Nitroglycerin is an oily liquid that may explode when subjected to heat, shock, or flame. Alfred Nobel developed the use of nitroglycerin as a blasting explosive by mixing nitroglycerin with inert absorbents, particularly “Kieselguhr”, or diatomaceous earth. He named this explosive dynamite and patented it in 1867.
Is nitroglycerin flammable or explosive?
Highly flammable. Nitroalkanes, such as NITROGLYCERIN, range from slight to strong oxidizing agents. If mixed with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides and nitrides, they may begin a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation.
Is nitroglycerin for heart explosive?
Medical Use In pharmaceutical form, nitroglycerin (sometimes called glyceryl trinitrate, probably to prevent alarming patients) is used as a heart medication, which is unlike its unstable counterpart, as it cannot be rendered even slightly explosive.
Is Nitro a TNT?
Dynamite is not the same thing as TNT. But TNT (or 2,4,6,-trinitrotoluene, to use its chemical name) is not one of those components. Instead, the active explosive in dynamite is a chemical called nitroglycerin. Nitroglycerin was first made in 1847 by Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero — not by Alfred Nobel.
What are explosives in chemistry?
“An explosive is any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that, when subjected to heat, impact, friction, detonation, or other suitable initiation, undergoes rapid chemical change, evolving large volumes of highly heated gases—typically nitrogen or CO2—that exert pressure on the surrounding medium.
Is liquid nitroglycerin a Class A explosive?
(ERG, 2016) NITROGLYCERIN, DESENSITIZED, [LIQUID] is incompatible with ozone and acids, and is an OSHA Class A Explosive (1910.109) (NIOSH, 2016). Less subject to explosion when heated or shocked than ordinary nitroglycerin because of the addition of desensitizing materials, but still dangerous.
What is the chemical name for nitroglycerin?
Nitroglycerin (NG), also known as nitroglycerine, trinitroglycerin (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by nitrating glycerol with white fuming nitric acid under conditions appropriate to the formation of the nitric acid ester.
What are the hazards of nitroglycerin?
Hazards. Less subject to explosion when heated or shocked than ordinary nitroglycerin because of the addition of desensitizing materials, but still dangerous. May begin a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation if mixed with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides and nitrides. Reacts with inorganic bases to form explosive salts.
What is the history of the nitroglycerin explosion?
History. In April 1866, three crates of nitroglycerin were shipped to California for the Central Pacific Railroad, which planned to experiment with it as a blasting explosive to expedite the construction of the 1,659-foot-long (506 m) Summit Tunnel through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. One of the crates exploded,…
