Nitro Compounds
Explosive molecules have varying structures, but most of them commonly contain a nitro group. NO2 has created the ability to literally move mountains, and has made it easier to wage war. Gunpowder (or black powder) was the first explosive mixture to be invented. It was used during ancient times in India, China, and Arabia. Gunpowder was originally used in fireworks and firecrackers, but by the the eleventh century, it was used to launch flaming arrows. The reactants in the reaction of gunpowder are all solid, but eight molecules of gaseous products form. It is these hot, expanding gases that propel a bullet or a cannonball.
The firelock was the first firearm, produced sometime between 1300 and 1325. It was a tube of iron that was loaded with gunpowder and ignited by inserting a heated wire. As more advanced firearms were produced, different rates of gunpowder were needed. The finer the powder was, the faster it would burn. This made it possible to create the powder necessary for various applications. The water used for manufacturing was often supplied from the urine of mill workers.
The force behind explosives is the rapid expansion of gases in reactions. The shock wave resulting from the rapid volume increase determines the destructive power of the explosion. Since explosions give off a lot of heat, these reactions are known to be highly exothermic. In nitro compounds' explosive reactions, an extremely stable N2 molecule forms (the stability comes from the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms). The number of nitro groups attached to a nitrated molecule determines how explosive the molecule is. Nitrotoluene has one nitro group and dinitrotoluene has two, however they do not have the same power as trinitrotoluene (TNT).
Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero created nitroglycerin, another explosive nitro molecule. Sobrero tasted the compound (this practice was common at the time), and noted that "a trace placed on the tongue but not swallowed gives rise to a most pulsating, violent headache, accompanied by great weakness of the limbs". Later, nitroglycerin became used for treatment of angina pectoris, a heart disease. Nitroglycerin in the body releases nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels. For angina sufferers, this dilation allows adequate blood flow, relieving angina pain.
Alfred Nobel had an idea to employ an explosion of a tiny amount of gunpowder to detonate a much larger explosion of nitroglycerin. His idea worked, and is still used in the mining and construction industries to this day. Nobel was able to produce desired explosions, but faced the issue of preventing undesired ones. He searched for ways to stabilize nitroglycerin, and solidification was an obvious method. Nobel began experimenting by mixing the oily nitroglycerin liquid with neutral solids. He found that kieselguhr (a fine, natural, siliceous material) could soak up the nitroglycerin while remaining porous. The kieselguhr diluted the nitroglycerin, and separation of the nitroglycerin particles slowed their decomposition. The explosions were now controllable. Nobel named his mixture dynamite, and by 1867, Nobel and Company began shipping dynamite, and the family fortune was assured. Nobel died alone at his home in Italy in 1896, and his wealthy estate was left for providing yearly prizes for research in chemistry, physics, medicine, peace, and literature (the Nobel Prize).
Dynamite could not be used as an ammunition propellant, and military leaders were looking for something more powerful than gunpowder. Nitrocellulose (guncotton) or nitrocellulose mixed with nitroglycerin have been used as "smokeless powder" and remain the basis of firearm explosives. TNT was well suited for munitions because it wasn't acidic, it had a low melting point (it could easily be melted and poured into bombs and shells), and it could penetrate armor. Ammonium nitrate can be a safe explosive when handled properly, but it is responsible for disasters caused by improper safety procedures or bombings by terrorist organizations. Pentaerythritoltetranitrate (PETN) is also a common explosives choice among terrorists. This is because PETN can mix with rubber to form a plastic explosive, which can be molded into any shape. It is easily detonated, very powerful, and it has little odors, making it difficult for trained dogs to detect.
Explosive nitro compounds have made major impacts in terrorism and war, but they have impacted the world in other ways too. The compounds have been used for mining, building canal tunnels, building railway tunnels, and removing dangerous rock obstacles. Explosives have changed civilization. Whether they are used for destruction, or for construction, explosives have a major role in civilization. They have improved firearms and other explosive-based weapons used in war. Not to mention, the discovery of dynamite eventually created the Nobel Prize, which is considered a very remarkable award to receive.
The firelock was the first firearm, produced sometime between 1300 and 1325. It was a tube of iron that was loaded with gunpowder and ignited by inserting a heated wire. As more advanced firearms were produced, different rates of gunpowder were needed. The finer the powder was, the faster it would burn. This made it possible to create the powder necessary for various applications. The water used for manufacturing was often supplied from the urine of mill workers.
The force behind explosives is the rapid expansion of gases in reactions. The shock wave resulting from the rapid volume increase determines the destructive power of the explosion. Since explosions give off a lot of heat, these reactions are known to be highly exothermic. In nitro compounds' explosive reactions, an extremely stable N2 molecule forms (the stability comes from the triple bond between the two nitrogen atoms). The number of nitro groups attached to a nitrated molecule determines how explosive the molecule is. Nitrotoluene has one nitro group and dinitrotoluene has two, however they do not have the same power as trinitrotoluene (TNT).
Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero created nitroglycerin, another explosive nitro molecule. Sobrero tasted the compound (this practice was common at the time), and noted that "a trace placed on the tongue but not swallowed gives rise to a most pulsating, violent headache, accompanied by great weakness of the limbs". Later, nitroglycerin became used for treatment of angina pectoris, a heart disease. Nitroglycerin in the body releases nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels. For angina sufferers, this dilation allows adequate blood flow, relieving angina pain.
Alfred Nobel had an idea to employ an explosion of a tiny amount of gunpowder to detonate a much larger explosion of nitroglycerin. His idea worked, and is still used in the mining and construction industries to this day. Nobel was able to produce desired explosions, but faced the issue of preventing undesired ones. He searched for ways to stabilize nitroglycerin, and solidification was an obvious method. Nobel began experimenting by mixing the oily nitroglycerin liquid with neutral solids. He found that kieselguhr (a fine, natural, siliceous material) could soak up the nitroglycerin while remaining porous. The kieselguhr diluted the nitroglycerin, and separation of the nitroglycerin particles slowed their decomposition. The explosions were now controllable. Nobel named his mixture dynamite, and by 1867, Nobel and Company began shipping dynamite, and the family fortune was assured. Nobel died alone at his home in Italy in 1896, and his wealthy estate was left for providing yearly prizes for research in chemistry, physics, medicine, peace, and literature (the Nobel Prize).
Explosive nitro compounds have made major impacts in terrorism and war, but they have impacted the world in other ways too. The compounds have been used for mining, building canal tunnels, building railway tunnels, and removing dangerous rock obstacles. Explosives have changed civilization. Whether they are used for destruction, or for construction, explosives have a major role in civilization. They have improved firearms and other explosive-based weapons used in war. Not to mention, the discovery of dynamite eventually created the Nobel Prize, which is considered a very remarkable award to receive.
I knew a little about this topic but I did not know that NO2 could move mountains.
ReplyDeleteInteresting in my book The Disappearing Spoon it talked about Fritz Haber, who wanted to create nitrogen based explosives but instead he made something that made fertilizer cheap and easy to make.
ReplyDelete