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.

Composition

Dynamite contains three parts Nitroglycerin, one part diatomaceous earth and a small admixture of Sodium Carbonate (soda). This mixture is formed into short sticks and wrapped in paper.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nitroglycerin by itself is a very strong explosive, but in its pure form it is shock-sensitive (i.e., physical shock can cause it to explode) and it degrades over time to even more unstable forms. This makes it highly dangerous to transport or use in its pure form. Absorbed into diatomaceous earth nitroglycerin is not shock-sensitive.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~