Why is nitroglycerin considered a powerful explosive?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

coal miner loading a drill hole with an explosive — explosive A coal miner loading a drill hole with a water gel explosive called Tovex.

Nitroglycerin is considered a powerful explosive primarily due to its chemical composition and the extreme energy released during its decomposition.1

With the molecular formula $C_{3} H_{5} (O N O_{2})_{3}$ , it possesses a high nitrogen content and contains enough oxygen atoms to fully oxidize its carbon and hydrogen atoms while liberating nitrogen gas. When it detonates, this reaction produces a massive volume of gas—occupying more than 1,200 times its original volume—and generates intense heat, raising temperatures to approximately 5,000 °C (9,000 °F).1

This rapid reaction results in the instantaneous development of pressure reaching 20,000 atmospheres, creating a detonation wave that travels at roughly 7,700 meters per second (over 17,000 miles per hour). Because of this high sensitivity to shock and heat, the substance is inherently volatile, which led to the development of dynamite by Alfred B. Nobel to make its use safer and more manageable.1

Would you like to know more about how nitroglycerin is stabilized for industrial use?