How dangerous is nitroglycerin?
Lethal dose of nitroglycerin for a person of average age and weight will be 2.0 grams. But an overdose of nitroglycerin is dangerous not only taking a lethal amount of active ingredient. While taking the drug may experience side effects that are substantially enhanced when using even a single extra pill. These include:
Why is nitroglycerin so explosive?
Why is nitroglycerin so explosive? An Explosive Combination of Atoms Nitroglycerin is an oily, colourless liquid, but also a high explosive that is so unstable that the slightest jolt, impact or friction can cause it to spontaneously detonate. It is the speed of the decomposition reaction which makes nitroglycerin such a violent explosive.
How volatile is nitroglycerin?
Nitroglycerin is a component in some relatively stable solid explosives, like dynamite. But as a liquid, it's extremely dangerous and volatile. You typically have to use a blasting cap to detonate a stick of dynamite, but you can accidentally trigger a nitroglycerin explosion with a physical shock. It doesn't blow up at the slightest movement ...
What to know about nitroglycerin?
You may not be able to use nitroglycerin if you have:
- severe anemia (low red blood cells);
- increased pressure inside the skull;
- circulation problems or shock (pale or clammy skin, cold sweat, numbness or tingling, fast or irregular heartbeats, or feeling like you might pass out); or
- if you also take riociguat or vericiguat.
Why is nitroglycerine so unstable?
Nitroglycerin - is derived from the glycerol molecule (highlighted in red) which is a common biological molecule from which triglycerides fats and oils are constructed, where all the -OH groups have been replaced by -NO2. It is the speed of the decomposition reaction which makes nitroglycerin such a violent explosive.
What causes nitroglycerine to explode?
Nitroglycerin is extremely sensitive to shock and to rapid heating; it begins to decompose at 50–60 °C (122–140 °F) and explodes at 218 °C (424 °F).
How was nitroglycerin made more stable?
Dynamite was invented by Alfred Nobel in 1866. Nitroglycerin, a very unstable explosive, was already known. Nobel mixed the nitroglycerin with silica to stabilize it and form a solid material.
How does nitroglycerin medicine not explode?
Can nitroglycerin pills explode? Normally they can't make a big explosion because the amount of actual nitroglycerin is only about 0.5mg (no possibility of dynamite). But 0.5mg is about the same amount of powder used in caps for kids' "cap guns".
What happens when you put nitroglycerin under your tongue?
They work much faster when absorbed through the lining of the mouth. Place the tablet under the tongue or between the cheek and gum, and let it dissolve. Do not eat, drink, smoke, or use chewing tobacco while a tablet is dissolving. Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets usually give relief in 1 to 5 minutes.
What is the difference between medical nitroglycerin and explosive nitroglycerin?
Chemically there is no difference between the nitroglycerin used in dynamite and that used in heart medication. This is indicated by the fact that nitro pills are kept away from light (nitroglycerin is light-sensitive, like many nitrogen compounds).
Can a nitroglycerin pill explode?
* Nitroglycerin can explode if SHOCKED or HEATED.
Can dynamite explode when dropped?
By design it will not explode upon impact but requires a powerful explosive shock from a blasting cap in order to set it off. Save this answer.
What does TNT stand for in dynamite?
trinitrotoluenetrinitrotoluene (TNT), a pale yellow, solid organic nitrogen compound used chiefly as an explosive, prepared by stepwise nitration of toluene. Because TNT melts at 82° C (178° F) and does not explode below 240° C (464° F), it can be melted in steam-heated vessels and poured into casings.
Is nitroglycerin more explosive than?
PETN. One of the most powerful explosive chemicals known to us is PETN, which contains nitro groups which are similar to that in TNT and the nitroglycerin in dynamite. But the presence of more of these nitro groups means it explodes with more power.
What happens if you drink nitroglycerin?
What if you had to swig a little nitroglycerine? You could get red in the face or faint. Nitroglycerine acts as a vasodilator to enlarge your blood vessels and lower your blood pressure. But screeners would have a hard time spotting the most likely symptoms—elevated heart rate and nausea.
Does wet dynamite explode?
Even though the diatomaceous earth takes away some of the dangers of nitroglycerin, there are still problems because the mixture is not stable in damp environments. Water causes the nitroglycerin to leak away. The nitroglycerin can build up, and explode unexpectedly.
What must be done to produce an explosion?
To create a simple explosion requires three essential ingredients: a means of ignition, a fuel source, and oxygen to support the rapid combustion, which, if confined, will produce an explosion.
What neutralizes nitroglycerin?
staff demonstrated that MuniRem is the best solution for the rapid and safe neutralization of nitroglycerine, dynamite and water gel.
Does wet dynamite explode?
Even though the diatomaceous earth takes away some of the dangers of nitroglycerin, there are still problems because the mixture is not stable in damp environments. Water causes the nitroglycerin to leak away. The nitroglycerin can build up, and explode unexpectedly.
What is nitroglycerin used for explosive?
Use as an explosive and a propellant. The main use of nitroglycerin, by tonnage, is in explosives such as dynamite and in propellants. Nitroglycerin is an oily liquid that may explode when subjected to heat, shock, or flame.
History
Nitroglycerin was the first practical explosive produced that was stronger than black powder. It was first synthesized by the Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero in 1847, working under Théophile-Jules Pelouze at the University of Turin. Sobrero initially called his discovery pyroglycerine and warned vigorously against its use as an explosive.
Instability and desensitization
In its undiluted form, nitroglycerin is a contact explosive, with physical shock causing it to explode. If it has not been adequately purified during manufacture it can degrade over time to even more unstable forms. This makes nitroglycerin highly dangerous to transport or use.
Detonation
Nitroglycerin and any diluents can certainly deflagrate (burn). The explosive power of nitroglycerin derives from detonation: energy from the initial decomposition causes a strong pressure wave that detonates the surrounding fuel.
Manufacturing
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Use as an explosive and a propellant
The main use of nitroglycerin, by tonnage, is in explosives such as dynamite and in propellants.
Medical use
Nitroglycerin belongs to a group of drugs called nitrates, which includes many other nitrates like isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket).
Industrial exposure
Infrequent exposure to high doses of nitroglycerin can cause severe headaches known as "NG head" or "bang head". These headaches can be severe enough to incapacitate some people; however, humans develop a tolerance to and dependence on nitroglycerin after long-term exposure. Although rare, withdrawal can be fatal.
Overview
Instability and desensitization
In its undiluted form, nitroglycerin is a contact explosive, with physical shock causing it to explode. If it has not been adequately purified during manufacture it can degrade over time to even more unstable forms. This makes nitroglycerin highly dangerous to transport or use. In its undiluted form, it is one of the world's most powerful explosives, comparable to the more recently developed RDX and PETN.
History
Nitroglycerin was the first practical explosive produced that was stronger than black powder. It was first synthesized by the Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero in 1847, working under Théophile-Jules Pelouze at the University of Turin. Sobrero initially called his discovery pyroglycerine and warned vigorously against its use as an explosive.
Detonation
Nitroglycerin and any diluents can deflagrate (burn). The explosive power of nitroglycerin derives from detonation: energy from the initial decomposition causes a strong pressure wave that detonates the surrounding fuel. This is a self-sustained shock wave that propagates through the explosive medium at 30 times the speed of sound as a near-instantaneous pressure-induced decomposition of the fuel into a white-hot gas. Detonation of nitroglycerin generates gases that …
Manufacturing
Nitroglycerin can be produced by acid-catalyzed nitration of glycerol (glycerin).
The industrial manufacturing process often reacts glycerol with a nearly 1:1 mixture of concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid. This can be produced by mixing white fuming nitric acid—a quite expensive pure nitric acid in which the oxides of nitrogen have been removed, as opposed to red fuming nitr…
Use as an explosive and a propellant
The main use of nitroglycerin, by tonnage, is in explosives such as dynamite and in propellants.
Nitroglycerin is an oily liquid that may explode when subjected to heat, shock, or flame.
Alfred Nobel developed the use of nitroglycerin as a blasting explosive by mixing nitroglycerin with inert absorbents, particularly "Kieselgur", or diatomaceous earth. He named this explosive dynamite and patented it in 1867. It was supplied ready for use in the form of sticks, individually wrapped i…
Medical use
Nitroglycerin belongs to a group of drugs called nitrates, which includes many other nitrates like isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, Ismo, Monoket). These agents all exert their effect by being converted to nitric oxide in the body by mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH2), and nitric oxide is a potent natural vasodilator.
Industrial exposure
Infrequent exposure to high doses of nitroglycerin can cause severe headaches known as "NG head" or "bang head". These headaches can be severe enough to incapacitate some people; however, humans develop a tolerance to and dependence on nitroglycerin after long-term exposure. Although rare, withdrawal can be fatal. Withdrawal symptoms include chest pain and other heart problems. These symptoms may be relieved with re-exposure to nitroglycerin or othe…