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TNT01

Org

an ic Che m

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by: Amy, Jimmy, James, & Ryan

02Name, Structure & Properties

•Trinitrotoluene, 2,4,6-Trinotromethylbenzene, or 2-Methyl-1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene

•Molecular formula is C7H5N3O6

•Molar mass is 227.13 g/mol

•Density is 1.654 g/cm3

•Melting point is 80.35°C or 176.63°F

•Boiling point is 240°C or 464°F (explodes)

•Odorless pale yellow solid

03How is TNT made?

• Industry 1. Toluene is nitrated with nitric + sulfuric acid =

mononitrotoluene (MNT)2. MNT is separated and denitrated = dinitrotoluene (DNT)3. DNT is nitrated with anhydrous mixture of nitric acid +

oleum = trinitrotoluene (TNT)• Stabilized by sulfitation

• Crude TNT is treated with aqueous sodium sulfite solution to remove less stable isomers of TNT and other undesired reaction products.

03How is TNT made?

• Laboratory 1. Mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acid used to nitrate mono- and

di- nitrotolune isomers 2. Nitrated tritolunes separated & washed with dilute NaHCO3 to remove

oxides of nitrogen3. Carefully nitrated with a mixture of fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid4. Heated on a steam bath & separated, washed with a dilute solution of

sodium sulfite and then re-crystallized from alcohol

04History of the Molecule

•First prepared by German chemist Julius Wilbrand in 1863•Originally used as a yellow dye & not an explosive

•TNT was hard to detonate & insensitive in a liquid state•UK’s Explosive Act considered TNT to not be an explosive

04History of the Molecule

•The Germany army used TNT as artillery filling in 1902•The armour piercing Shells would explode AFTER they penetrate a ship’s surface

•USA started filling TNT into naval mines, bombs, depth charges and torpedo warheads •Grade B TNT (brown sugar colour) required Grade A TNT (crystallized)as an explosive booster

05Impact & Uses

• TNT paved the way (literally) for other explosive devices

05Impact & Uses

‘Cus I’m T.N.T! I’m dynamite! - ACDC

05Impact & Uses

TNT Dynamite

First produced in 1863 by Julius Wilbrand

First produced in 1867 by Alfred Nobel

Is a Chemical compound

Constructed with many different explosives

Often mixed with other things

Is already a mixture

Not very sensitive Very sensitive

Energy density of 4.0MJ/kg

Energy density of 5.0MJ/kg

05TNT equivalent

05Impact & Uses