See Also

Trinitrotoluene

Trinitrotoluene is an explosive Explosive material

Any explosive material has the following characteristics: ... 

. Its empirical formula is C7H5N3O6. The name for TNT is, in accordance with the nomenclature of the IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is an international non-governmental organization [i] ... 

, 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene. In this article the more common designation trinitrotoluene is used. TNT was first synthesised by Joseph Wilbrand in 1863, and the first large-scale production began in Germany Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 in 1891. The explosive yield of TNT is considered the standard measure of strength of bombs Bomb

A bomb is an explosive device that generates and releases its energy very rapidly as an explosion [i] ... 

 and other explosives Explosive material

Any explosive material has the following characteristics: ... 

 .

Discussions

  Discussion Features

   Ask a question about 'Trinitrotoluene'

   Start a new discussion about 'Trinitrotoluene'

   Answer questions about 'Trinitrotoluene'

   'Trinitrotoluene' discussion forum


Encyclopedia

>
Structure Formula
General Information
Name Trinitrotoluene
Other Names 2-Methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene
TNT
Trotyl
Empirical formula  C Carbon

Carbon is a chemical element [i] in the periodic table [i] that has the symbol [i] C' ... 

7H Hydrogen

|-
| Triple point [i] || 13.8033 K, 7.042 kPa
... 

5N Nitrogen

Nitrogen is a chemical element [i] which has the symbol N and atomic number [i] 7 in the periodic table [i] ... 

3O Oxygen

Oxygen is a chemical element [i] with the chemical symbol O and atomic number [i] 8.... 

6
CAS Number  118-96-7
PubChem PubChem

PubChem is a database [i] of chemical [i] molecule [i]s.... 

 
Short description Pale, yellow, needle-shaped crystals
Characteristics
Molar mass  227.13 g/mol Mol (Belgium)

Mol is a municipality [i] located in the Belgian [i] province of Antwerp [i]. ... 

Molecular weight  227.131 g Gram

The gram or gramme symbol g, is a unit [i] of mass [i].
... 

/mol
Phase  solid
Shock sensitivity  Insensitive
Friction sensitivity  Insensitive
Density  1.654 g Gram

The gram or gramme symbol g, is a unit [i] of mass [i].
... 

/cm³ Cubic metre

The cubic metre is the SI derived unit [i] of volume [i]. ... 

Explosive velocity  6,900 m/s
RE factor  1.00
Melting Point  80.35 °C Celsius

The Celsius scale is a temperature [i] scale named after the Swedish [i] astronomer Anders Celsius [i] ... 

Boiling Point  295 °C Celsius

The Celsius scale is a temperature [i] scale named after the Swedish [i] astronomer Anders Celsius [i] ... 

Vapor pressure  0.057 hPa
Solubility  Well in ether, acetone, benzene, badly in water
Safety References
Hazard symbol Hazard symbol

Hazard symbols are easily recognizable symbols designed to warn about hazardous materials or locations.... 

R/S Statements 
R: 2-23/24/25-33-51/53

S: 35-45-61
TLV  0.1 mg/m³
The widely accepted SI Units International System of Units

The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system [i]. ... 

 have been used here. Unless otherwise indicated, assume the data is measured under Standard conditions for temperature and pressure.

Trinitrotoluene is an explosive Explosive material

Any explosive material has the following characteristics:
... 

. Its empirical formula is C7H5N3O6.

The name for TNT is, in accordance with the nomenclature of the IUPAC International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is an international non-governmental organization [i] ... 

, 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene. In this article the more common designation trinitrotoluene is used.

TNT was first synthesised by Joseph Wilbrand in 1863, and the first large-scale production began in Germany Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 in 1891.

The explosive yield of TNT is considered the standard measure of strength of bombs Bomb

A bomb is an explosive device that generates and releases its energy very rapidly as an explosion [i]... 

 and other explosives Explosive material

Any explosive material has the following characteristics:
... 

 .

Characteristics

Trinitrotoluene is in the form of pale yellow, needle-shaped crystals and can be distilled in a vacuum. It is difficult to dissolve TNT in water; it is more soluble in ether Ether

Ether is the general name for a class of chemical compound [i]s which contain an ether group [i] ... 

, acetone Acetone

In chemistry [i], acetone is the simplest representative of the ketone [i]s.
... 

, benzene Benzene

Benzene, also known as benzol, is an organic [i] chemical compound [i] with the ... 

 and pyridine Pyridine

Pyridine is a chemical compound [i] with the formula C5 [i]H5 [i]N [i]. ... 

. With its low melting point of 80.35 °C, TNT can be melted in water vapour and poured into forms. TNT is poisonous and skin contact can cause allergic reactions, causing the skin to turn a bright yellow-orange color.

  • Water solubility: 130 mg/L at 20 °C
  • Steam pressure at 20 °C: 1.5 -6 mbar


  • Detonation speed: 6700-7000 m/s 6900 m/s
  • Lead block test: 300 ml/10 g
  • Sensitivity to impact: 15 Nm
  • Friction sensitivity: to 353 N no reaction

Toxicity

Some military testing grounds are contaminated with TNT. Wastewater from munitions programs including contamination of surface and subsurface waters Groundwater

Groundwater is water [i] located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of... 

 may be colored pink as the result of TNT and RDX contamination. Such contamination, called pinkwater, may be difficult and expensive to remedy.

TNT is quite toxic Toxicity

Toxicity is a measure to the degree to which something is toxic or poison [i]ous. ... 

. It can also be absorbed through the skin, and will cause irritation and bright yellow staining. During the First World War World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

, munition workers who handled the chemical found that their skin Skin

In zootomy [i] and dermatology [i], skin is an organ [i] of the integumentary system [i] made up ... 

 turned bright yellow, which led to the nickname "canary girls" or simply "canaries" to describe such workers. TNT would also eventually make ginger hair turn green. A 1916 British Government inquiry on female workers at the Royal Arsenal Royal Arsenal

The Royal Arsenal [i], originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition [i] ... 

, Woolwich found that 37% had severe pains due to loss of appetite, nausea and constipation, 25% suffered from dermatitis, and 34% experienced changes in menstruation Menstrual cycle

The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological [i] changes in the females of some ... 

. Before respirators and protective grease applied to the skin were introduced, about 100 workers died from the disease.

People exposed to trinitrotoluene over a prolonged period tend to experience anemia and abnormal liver Liver

The liver is an organ [i] in vertebrate [i]s, including human [i]s. ... 

 functions. Blood Blood

Blood is a highly specialised circulating [i] tissue [i] consisting of se ... 

 and liver Liver

The liver is an organ [i] in vertebrate [i]s, including human [i]s. ... 

 effects, spleen Spleen

The spleen is a ductless [i], vertebrate [i] gland [i] that is closely associa... 

 enlargement and other harmful effects on the immune system Immune system

The immune system is composed of a complex constellation of cells, organs and tissues, arranged in an el... 

 have also been found in animals that ingested or breathed trinitrotoluene. There is evidence that TNT adversely affects male Malé

Mal , population 81,647 , is the capital [i] of the Republic of Maldives [i]. ... 

 fertility, and TNT is listed as a possible human carcinogen. Consumption of TNT produces black urine.

History

TNT was first made in 1863 by a German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 chemist Chemist

A chemist is a scientist [i] trained in the science [i] of chemistry [i]. ... 

 Joseph Wilbrand, but its potential was not seen for several years, mainly because it was so hard to detonate and because it was less powerful than other explosives. Among its advantages, however, is its ability to be safely melted using steam Steam

In physical chemistry [i], and in engineering [i], steam refers to vaporized water [i]. ... 

 or hot water Water

Water is a taste [i]less, odor [i]less substance that is essential to all known forms of life [i] and i ... 

, allowing it to be poured molten into shell cases. It is also so insensitive that, for example, in 1910 it was exempted from the UK's Explosives Act 1875, i.e. not actually being considered an explosive for the purposes of manufacture and storage.

The German Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country [i] in central Europe [i]. ... 

 armed forces adopted it as an artillery Artillery

Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectile [i]s during war [i] ... 

 shell filling in 1902. A particular advantage that it gave the German Navy German Navy

The German Navy is the navy [i] of Germany [i] and part of the Bundeswehr [i].
... 

 in the First World War World War I

World War I, also known as the First World War, the Great War and "The War to End All War... 

 was being able to detonate their TNT-filled armour-piercing shells after they had penetrated the armour of British capital ships, whereas the British lyddite Picric acid

Picric acid is the common term for the chemical compound [i] 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, also known as ' ... 

-filled shells tended to explode as soon as they struck the German armour, and thus expended much of their energy outside the ship. The British gradually started using it as replacement for lyddite in 1907.

Because of the insatiable demand for explosives during the Second World War, TNT was frequently mixed with 40%-80% ammonium nitrate Ammonium nitrate

The chemical compound [i] ammonium nitrate, the nitrate [i] of ammonia [i] with chemical formula N [i] ... 

, producing an explosive called amatol. Although nearly as powerful as TNT amatol suffered from the slight disadvantage of being hygroscopic . Another variation called minol, consisting of amatol mixed with about 20% aluminum Aluminium

Aluminium or aluminum is the chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Al ... 

 powder, was used by the British in mines and depth charges. Although blocks of pure TNT are available in various sizes eg 250g, 500g and 1 kg etc., it is more commonly encountered in explosive blends which comprise a variable percentage of TNT plus other ingredients, e.g. Torpex, Tritonal, Pentolite and Composition B.

Preparation


The synthesis is done in a stepwise procedure. First toluene Toluene

Toluene, also known as methylbenzene or phenylmethane is a clear, water [i]-insoluble ... 

 is nitrated with a mixture of sulfuric Sulfuric acid

Sulfuric acid , H [i]2S [i]O [i]4, is a strong mineral acid [i]. ... 

 and nitric acid Nitric acid

The chemical compound [i] nitric acid , otherwise known as aqua fortis or spirit of nitre, i ... 

. Even lower-concentrated acid mixtures are capable of doing the first and second introduction of a nitrogroup. The nitrogroups decrease the reactivity of the toluene drastically, because they are electron-withdrawing groups. After separation the mono- and dinitrotoluene is fully nitrated with a mixture of nitric acid and oleum . This mixture is far more reactive and is capable of introducing the last nitrogroup. The waste acid from this process is used for the first step of the reaction in industrial synthesis.

See also

  • dynamite
  • hexanitrobenzene
  • megaton
  • tetryl

External links

  • Detailed Preparation