TNT, or trinitrotoluene, is an odorless pale yellow solid with a molecular formula of C7H5N3O6. It was first prepared in 1863 as a yellow dye but later became widely used as an explosive. The document outlines the industrial and laboratory processes for making TNT through nitration reactions. TNT paved the way for modern explosive devices and was used in artillery shells, naval mines, bombs and other weapons in World War I and II due to its insensitivity and ability to be molded into different shapes.
2. 02
Name, 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
3. 03
How 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.
4. 03
How 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 nitrogen
3. Carefully nitrated with a mixture of fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid
4. Heated on a steam bath & separated, washed with a dilute solution of
sodium sulfite and then re-crystallized from alcohol
5. 04
History 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
6. 04
History 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
7. 05
Impact & Uses
• TNT paved the way (literally) for other explosive devices
9. 05
Impact & 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
