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.

History

The Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel first constructed dynamite in 1867 in Krümmel(part of Geesthacht), near Hamburg, Germany. By coincidence he discovered that nitroglycerin absorbed in diatomaceous earth is insensitive to impact. With this he discovered the first manageable explosive stronger than black powder. He patented his discovery in October 1867.

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Nobel originally sold dynamite as "Nobel's Safety Blasting Powder". After its introduction, dynamite rapidly gained popularity as a safe alternative to gunpowder and nitroglycerin. Nobel tightly controlled the patent, and unlicensed duplicators were quickly shut down. However, a few United States businessmen got around the patent by using a slightly different formula. Despite this, dynamite brought Nobel a great fortune, which he used to found the Nobel Prize.

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The word dynamite comes from the Greek word δυναμις (dunamis), meaning power, and the Greek suffix -ιτης (-itēs).

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