Acetone peroxide

Acetone peroxide (triacetone triperoxide, peroxyacetone, TATP, TCAP) is an organic peroxide. It is a high explosive that can be made from common household items: acetone, hydrogen peroxide, and sulfuric acid. Other strong acids such as hydrochloric acid may also be used as a catalyst. Since its precursors are readily available, it is commonly used by amateur chemists and explosive makers, often for detonators, and is sometimes found in improvised explosive devices. It takes the form of a white crystalline powder with a distinctive acrid smell.

Related Topics:
Organic peroxide - High explosive - Acetone - Hydrogen peroxide - Sulfuric acid - Hydrochloric acid - Catalyst - Improvised explosive device

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It is highly heat, friction, and shock sensitive. Professional chemists have been injured attempting to use it. Once manufactured the material can degrade during storage, becoming less likely to explode. For its instability, it has been called the "Mother of Satan".

Related Topics:
Shock - Chemists

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Acetone peroxide was discovered in 1895 by R. Wolffenstein (Chemische Berichte 28, 2265 (1895)). Information about it including the relative proportions of monomer, dimer, and trimer is also available in the Journal of the American Chemical Society 81, 6261 (1959). Other sources include crystal structure and 3d analysis in "The Chemistry of Peroxides" edited by Saul Patai (pp. 396–7), as well as the "Textbook of Practical Organic Chemistry" by Vogel.

Related Topics:
1895 - R. Wolffenstein - Journal of the American Chemical Society - Crystal - Saul Patai - Vogel

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