Trinitrotoluene

Trinitrotoluene (TNT, or Trotyl) is a pale yellow crystalline aromatic hydrocarbon compound that melts at 354 K (178 °F, 81 °C). Trinitrotoluene is an explosive chemical and a part of many explosive mixtures, such as when mixed with ammonium nitrate to form amatol. It is prepared by the nitration of toluene (C6H5CH3), it has a chemical formula of C6H2(NO2)3CH3, and IUPAC name 2,4,6-trinitromethylbenzene.

Related Topics:
Crystal - Aromatic hydrocarbon - K - °F - °C - Explosive - Ammonium nitrate - Amatol - Nitration - Toluene - C - H - N - O - IUPAC name

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In its refined form, trinitrotoluene is very stable, and unlike nitroglycerin, it is insensitive to friction, blows or jarring. This means that it must be set off by a detonator. It does not react with metals or absorb water, and so unlike dynamite can be safely stored for many years. It is however readily acted upon by alkalis to form unstable compounds that are very sensitive to heat and impact.

Related Topics:
Nitroglycerin - Detonator - Absorb - Dynamite - Alkali

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Amounts of TNT are used as units of energy, based on a specific combustion energy of TNT of 4.184 MJ/kg (or one calorie—specifically a thermochemical calorie—per milligram). Hence 1 kt TNT = 4.184 TJ, 1 Mt TNT = 4.184 PJ. Note that chemical explosives release less energy per kilogram than everyday household products like fat (38 MJ/kg) or sugar (17 MJ/kg); they do, however, release their combustion energy much more rapidly. One reason for their low power is that they contain their oxidant as well as the fuel — an explosive does not use atmospheric oxygen. The density of pure TNT (without any additives like sawdust or aluminium) is 1.654 g/cm³.

Related Topics:
Specific combustion energy - MJ - Kg - Calorie - Milligram - Kt - TJ - Mt - PJ - Fat - Sugar - Oxidant - Oxygen - Density

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