Nitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin

General
Systematic name	Nitroglycerin
Other names	trinitroglycerin glyceryl trinitrate
Molecular formula	C₃H₅N₃O₉
SMILES	C(C(CO[N+](=O)[O-])O [N+](=O)[O-])O[N+](=O)[O-]
Molar mass	Molar mass::227.0872 g/mol
Appearance	Clear yellow/colorless oily liquid
CAS number	CAS number::55-63-0
Properties
Density and phase	[[Density::1.6 g/cm³]] at 15 °C
Melting point	Melting point::13.2 °C
Boiling point	Boiling point::50 °C (Decomposes)

Nitroglycerin is one of the world’s most amazing inventions. It has a lot of properties that make it very useful for use in many different ways. If you heat nitroglycerin, it will explode. It has been known in many cases to have killed those who are making it. It is a very dangerous chemical, and is often used in dynamite as well as other blasting materials. Nitroglycerin has been around since 1847, and despite peoples best efforts, it is still commonly misused today.

Properties

Nitroglycerin is a clear liquid. It is highly unstable, as well as extremely violently reactive. So, it could easily explode when reacting with one of many other chemical, mostly when heated or shocked. It remains a liquid at room temperature. Because it is made in a lab, this element is impossible to find in nature. [1]. When it is in its purest form, even the contact of a physical touch can cause it to explode. It is a very dangerous chemical, and becomes even more and more unstable as it ages, and degrades. The explosive power nitroglycerin is easily comparable to the explosives used in the military such as RDX, PETN and the plastic explosive C-4. Because of its interesting qualities, nitroglycerin has been known to desensitize by cooling to between 5 and 10°C. At this point, the nitroglycerin will freeze, and cause its sensitivity to drop dramatically; but, when it is later thawed, it will become extremely explosive again, especially if there are any impurities within its make up, or if it is cooled too quickly. [2]

History

Nitroglycerin has a few other names, such as tri-nitroglycerin, and glyceryl trinitrate. It is a chemical compound which is created through nitrating glycerol, thus, its common name nitroglycerin. It was originally created by a scientist by the name of Ascanio Sobrero. As a famous and brilliant chemist, Sobrero was working under TJ Pelouze in the University of Torino. As the years went by, Alfred novel, created the best process for manufacturing the compound, in the 1860s. This company of his, created a liquid combination of nitroglycerin, which they exported, along with gunpowder, so often so that the two substances when sold together are called Swedish blasting oil. It is a very dangerous combination, which not many people would use due to its instability. [3]

Uses

Because of its highly reactive properties, nitroglycerin is often used in explosive compounds such as dynamite. It is a highly explosive and useful compound. It is very commonly used to aid with mining, by blasting out large sections of rock[4] although it is most commonly known as a blasting material, nitroglycerin also has many amazing medical properties. [5]when used in medicine, nitroglycerin is referred to as Glyceryl tri-nitrate, in order to keep patients from being alarmed. A few brand name medicines that use nitroglycerin in their ingredients are Nitrospan®, Nitrostat®, and Tridil®. The prominent purpose of these medicines is to treat certain heart conditions. It can be administered through tablets, sprays, IV solutions, and transdemal patches. However, it has been known to, have side effects such as chest pain, decrease in blood pressure, increase in heart rate, or loss of consciousness. The most common reason that these side effects will occur, is because the nitroglycerin has been converted to nitric oxide. Because nitric oxide is a vasodilator, it has been used in an ointment as an effective treatment for anal fissure. In some cases, nitroglycerin has also been implemented in the treatment for the brown recluse spider bite. [6]