Dynamite

Dynamite is an explosive based on the explosive potential of nitroglycerin using diatomaceous earth (Kieselguhr) as an absorbent. It was invented by Swedish chemist and engineer Alfred Nobel in 1866 and patented in 1867. It is usually sold in the form of a stick roughly eight inches long and one inch in diameter, but other sizes also exist. Dynamite is considered a "high explosive", which means it is much more powerful than gunpowder.

Characteristics

Dynamite is quite insensitive to impact, friction and shock. It is said that a stick will burn but not explode when placed in a small fire.

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A small explosion will detonate dynamite; a blasting cap or similar device is used for this effect. Dynamite can also be detonated by soaking it in gasoline, and then burning it.

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In long-term storage, dynamite will 'sweat', meaning the nitroglycerin will pass out of the absorbent to form drops of pure liquid on the surface of the stick. This causes a serious safety hazard and has led to a decrease of the popularity of dynamite.

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