The Chemistry Within Dynamite and Tnt

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The Chemistry Within Dynamite – Summative Research Meghan Light Mrs. Jain SNC2DI Dynamite and TNT are highly explosive materials that are closely related but stil very different. These explosives are used in many types of situations where explosions are needed. Although, there are many surrounding issues environmentally and with humans that make dynamite and TNT usage a controversial issue. Originally, dynamite was made of nitroglycerin, an explosive yellow liquid which was then absorbed into diatomaceous earth, sawdust or other solid material and then formed into round sticks. Today, a safer method of making dynamite (and also more common) is combining nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose (a highly flammable material that is made by treating cellulose with nitric acid) and ketone. The chemical equation for nitroglycerin is C3H5(ONO2)3. Dynamite can be made with other products (such as ammonium) but this is less common and can be more dangerous. The overall main explosive reactant within dynamite is the nitroglycerin. When dynamite explodes, it causes an exothermic reaction. This means that the reaction causes light and heat to be produced. When heat or pressure is added to the product, it explodes and produces water, nitrogen and oxygen. The explosion of nitroglycerin can be classified as a decomposition reaction. Nitroglycerin breaks down after being pressurized or exposed to heat. The balanced equation for when nitroglycerin combusts is 2C3H5(NO3)3 <--> 6CO2 + 5H2O + 3N2 + O2. Sometimes, dynamite can be closely related to TNT, although they aren’t much alike at all. Nitroglycerin should only be worked on when the substance is a liquid. If it is not, the frozen or semi-frozen state of the product is quite dangerous to handle. The environments in which dynamite is manufactured are strictly controlled with specialized heating, ventilation and
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