TRINITROTOLUENE

TRINITROTOLUENE = 2,4,6-TRINITROTOLUENE

CAS Number: 118-96-7
EC Number: 204-289-6
MDL number: MFCD00041875
Molecular Formula: C7H5N3O6 or C6H2(CH3)(NO2)3

Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a pale yellow, solid organic nitrogen compound used chiefly as an explosive, prepared by stepwise nitration of toluene. 
Because Trinitrotoluene melts at 82° C (178° F) and does not explode below 240° C (464° F), Trinitrotoluene can be melted in steam-heated vessels and poured into casings. 
Trinitrotoluene is relatively insensitive to shock and cannot be exploded without a detonator. 
For these reasons Trinitrotoluene is the most favoured chemical explosive, extensively used in munitions and for demolitions.

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is a yellow, odorless solid that does not occur naturally in the environment. 
2,4,6-trinitrotoluene is a trinitrotoluene having the nitro groups at positions 2, 4 and 6.  
2,4,6-trinitrotoluene derives from a 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene.
Trinitrotoluene appears as an explosive solid.  
Trinitrotoluene is not designed to produce significant fragmentation or throw projectiles. 
Nitroaromatic compounds are xenobiotics that have found multiple applications in the synthesis of foams, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and explosives. 

These compounds are toxic and recalcitrant and are degraded relatively slowly in the environment by microorganisms.
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is the most widely used nitroaromatic compound. 
Certain strains of Pseudomonas and fungi can use TNT as a nitrogen source through the removal of nitrogen as nitrite from TNT under aerobic conditions and the further reduction of the released nitrite to ammonium, which is incorporated into carbon skeletons. 
Phanerochaete chrysosporium and other fungi mineralize TNT under ligninolytic conditions by converting it into reduced TNT intermediates, which are excreted to the external milieu, where they are substrates for ligninolytic enzymes. 

Most if not all aerobic microorganisms reduce TNT to the corresponding amino derivatives via the formation of nitroso and hydroxylamine intermediates. 
Condensation of the latter compounds yields highly recalcitrant azoxytetranitrotoluenes. 
Anaerobic microorganisms can also degrade TNT through different pathways. 
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. 
Trinitrotoluene is a reagent (reactant) in chemistry but is best known as a useful explosive material with convenient handling properties. 

The explosive yield of TNT is considered the standard measure of strength of bombs and other explosives. 
In chemistry, TNT is used to generate charge transfer salts.
TNT is one of the most commonly used explosives for military and industrial applications. 
Trinitrotoluene is valued because of Trinitrotoluene's insensitivity to shock and friction, which reduces the risk of unexpected detonations. 
TNT melts at 80 °C (180 °F), far below the temperature at which Trinitrotoluene will spontaneously detonate, allowing it to be poured as well as safely combined with other explosives. 

TNT neither absorbs nor dissolves in water, which allows Trinitrotoluene to be used effectively in wet environments. 
Additionally, Trinitrotoluene is comparatively stable when compared to other high explosives.
Although blocks of pure TNT are available in various sizes (250, 500, and 1,000 g), Trinitrotoluene is more commonly encountered in synergistic explosive blends that comprise a variable percentage of TNT plus other ingredients. 
Trinitrotoluene (more commonly known as the explosive TNT) is a nitrated toluene derivative that exists as a pale yellow, crystalline solid at room temperature and melts at 82º C (178º F). 

Trinitrotoluene is prepared by carefully nitrating toluene, and is often used as a high explosive. 
Unlike nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene does not explode when affected by ordinary shocks and jarring. 
Trinitrotoluene's melting point is much lower than the temperature at which Trinitrotoluene explodes, making Trinitrotoluene safe to melt in steam-heated vessels and pour into artillery casings. 
Because Trinitrotoluene does not explode below 240º C (464º F), Trinitrotoluene must be ignited with a detonator, making 

Trinitrotoluene a favored chemical explosive for munitions and demolitions.
Without a detonator, Trinitrotoluene is a reasonably stable material. 
Trinitrotoluene does not attack metals, does not absorb moisture, and is practically insoluble in water. 
TNT dissolves in benzene and in acetone and, like all nitro compounds, reacts readily with chemical reducing agents. 
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a yellow, odourless, unstable solid. 
TNT does not occur naturally in the environment. 

The acronym TNT is short for 2,4,6 trinitrotoluene. 
Trinitrotoluene is an aromatic organic molecule with three nitro groups attached on the 2,4,6 positions of toluene (methyl benzene). 
TNT was first made in 1863 by Joseph Wilbrand, a German chemist, who was working on the production of dyes. 
Yellow TNT’s early use was not as an explosive, and this ‘hidden’ property was not discovered for another 20 years. 
TNT is a yellow solid at room temperature (mp 80⁰C) and called Trolite in France and Trotyl in Germany. 

TNT has a detonation velocity of 6900 m/s, and in the early days of its use as an explosive Trinitrotoluene needed a primary explosive such as fulminate to detonate Trinitrotoluene.
2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (two four six try-nye-troh-TOL-yoo-een), or TNT, is a yellow odorless solid that occurs in the form of crystalline needles. 
Although not as powerful as some other explosives, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene has the advantage of being relatively insensitive to shock. 
2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a molecular explosive that exhibits chemical stability in the molten phase at ambient pressure.

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is a yellow, odorless solid that does not occur naturally in the environment. 
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is an important explosive, since 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene can very quickly change from a solid into hot expanding gases. 
Two moles of solid TNT almost instantly changes to 15 moles of hot gases plus some powdered carbon, which gives a dark sooty appearance to the explosion. 
This is where another explosive, toluene. 

At low temperatures, the mononitrotoluenes are made, and as the reaction temperature is increased the dinitro compounds are formed, until eventually TNT is formed.
TNT is explosive for two reasons. 
First, 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene contains the elements carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, which means that when the material burns 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene produces highly stable substances (CO, CO2 and N2) with strong bonds, so releasing a great deal of energy. 

This is a common feature of most explosives; they invariably consist of many nitrogen or oxygen containing groups (usually in the form of 2, 3 or more nitro-groups), attached to a small, constricted organic backbone.
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene belongs to the class of organic compounds known as nitrobenzenes. 
Nitrobenzenes are compounds containing a nitrobenzene moiety, which consists of a benzene ring with a carbon bearing a nitro group.

Trinitrotoluene is a chemical compound commonly known as TNT. 
TNT is commonly confused with dynamite, however, dynamite is actually a mixture of nitroglycerin and an absorbent agent such as sawdust. 
TNT is characterized by its pale, yellow color. 
Trinitrotoluene is extremely explosive, but also relatively stable.

USES and APPLICATIONS of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Trinitrotoluene is commonly known as TNT and is an explosive used in military shells, bombs, and grenades, in industrial uses, and in underwater blasting.
-Trinitrotoluene has a role as an explosive.
-TNT is an explosive used in military shells, bombs, and grenades; in industrial uses; and in underwater blasting. 
-TNT is a high explosive that is unaffected by ordinary shocks and therefore must be set off by a detonator. 

-TNT is often mixed with other explosives such as ammonium nitrate to form amatol. 
-Because Trinitrotoluene is insensitive to shock and must be exploded with a detonator, Trinitrotoluene is the most favoured explosive used in munitions and construction. 
-Trinitrotoluene may be used alone or in combination with other explosive chemicals. 
-Trinitrotoluene's major use is in the manufacture of explosives. 
-Trinitrotoluene is commonly known as TNT and is an explosive used in military shells, bombs, and grenades, in industrial uses, and in underwater blasting. 

PREPARATION of TRINITROTOLUENE:
TNT is synthesized in a two-step process. 
First, toluene is nitrated with a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acid to produce mono- and dinitrotoluene. 
Next, the mixture of mono- and dinitrotoluene is further nitrated with a mixture of nitric acid and oleum, a more potent nitration recipe. 
The waste acid from this second step can be recycled for use in the first.

PRODUCTION of TRINITROTOLUENE:
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is prepared by the nitration of toluene with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. 
Toluene is nitrated in a three-step operation by using increasing temperatures and mixed-acid concentrations to successively introduce nitro groups to form mononitrotoluene (MNT), dinitrotoluene (DNT), and trinitrotoluene. 
The nitration can be accomplished in three separate steps or by continuous flow. 
Numerous other compounds are also formed during the nitration of toluene including unsymmetrical isomers of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and oxidation products such as tetranitromethane, nitrobenzoic acid, nitrocresol, and partially nitrated toluenes. 
The unsymmetrical 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene isomers are removed by washing with an aqueous sodium sulfite solution. 

HOW is TRINITROTOLUENE MADE?
TNT is made from toluene using a nitrating mixture.
The methyl group has a positive inductive effect (electron releasing) making the nitration of toluene faster than benzene. The methyl group is also ortho-para directing stabilising the carbocation intermediates in the 2 and 4 positions on the arene ring.

ADVANTAGES of TRINITROTOLUENE:
There are a number of advantages that TNT has for ammunition manufacturers. 
First, 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene melts at a reasonably low temperature (81°C), which means 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene can be readily melted and poured into shells and bombs. 
Secondly, 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene is not too unstable - allowing 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene to be handled reasonably safely during manufacture and operation. 
TNT will not spontaneously explode, and in fact can be treated quite roughly. 
In order to initiate the explosion, TNT must first be detonated using a pressure wave from another, more easily induced explosion from another explosive called a detonator. 
One such detonator is lead azide, Pb(N3)2, which explodes when struck or if an electric discharge is passed through it.

HISTORY of TRINITROTOLUENE:
TNT was first prepared in 1863 by German chemist Joseph Wilbrand and originally used as a yellow dye. 
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene's potential as an explosive was not appreciated for several years mainly because 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene was so difficult to detonate and because 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene was less powerful than alternatives. 
TNT can be safely poured when liquid into shell cases, and is so insensitive that in 1910, 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene was exempted from the UK's Explosives Act 1875 and was not considered an explosive for the purposes of manufacture and storage.
The German armed forces adopted 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene as a filling for artillery shells in 1902. 
TNT-filled armour-piercing shells would explode after they had penetrated the armour of British capital ships, whereas the British lyddite-filled shells tended to explode upon striking armour, thus expending much of their energy outside the ship. The British started replacing lyddite with TNT in 1907.

COMPOUND TYPE of TRINITROTOLUENE:    
-Aromatic Hydrocarbon
-Explosive Agent
-Food Toxin
-Indicator and Reagent
-Industrial/Workplace Toxin
-Nitrite
-Organic Compound
-Synthetic Compound

ALTERNATIVE PARENTS of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Nitrotoluenes 
-Nitroaromatic compounds 
-Propargyl-type 1,3-dipolar organic compounds 
-Organic oxoazanium compounds 
-Organopnictogen compounds 
-Organonitrogen compounds 
-Organic oxides 
-Hydrocarbon derivatives 

SUBSTITUENTS of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Nitrobenzene
-Nitrotoluene
-Nitroaromatic compound
-Toluene
-C-nitro compound
-Organic nitro compound
-Organic oxoazanium
-Allyl-type 1,3-dipolar organic compound
-Organic 1,3-dipolar compound
-Propargyl-type 1,3-dipolar organic compound
-Organic nitrogen compound
-Hydrocarbon derivative
-Organic oxide
-Organonitrogen compound
-Organopnictogen compound
-Organic oxygen compound
-Aromatic homomonocyclic compound

PHYSICAL and CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of TRINITROTOLUENE:
Molecular Weight: 227.13
Boiling point: 464°F     
Freezing point/melting point: 177.6°F    
Vapor pressure: 0.0002 mmHg
Specific gravity: 1.65    
Ionization potential: 10.59 eV
Appearance Form: liquid
Odor: No data available
Odor Threshold: No data available
pH: No data available
Melting point/freezing point: No data available
Initial boiling point and boiling range: 81 - 82 °C at 1,013 hPa
Flash point: 6,0 °C - closed cup
Evaporation rate: No data available
Flammability (solid, gas): No data available
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits:
Upper explosion limit: 16 %(V)
Lower explosion limit: 4,4 %(V)
Vapor pressure: No data available
Vapor density: No data available
Relative density: No data available
Water solubility: No data available
Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water: No data available
Autoignition temperature: No data available
Decomposition temperature: No data available
Viscosity:
Viscosity, kinematic: No data available
Viscosity, dynamic: No data availables
Explosive properties: No data available
Oxidizing properties: No data available
Formula: C7H5N3O6 / C6H2(CH3)(NO2)3
Molecular mass: 227.1
Decomposes at 240°C
Melting point: 80.1°C
Density: 1.65 g/cm³
Solubility in water, g/100ml at 20°C: 0.013
Vapour pressure at 20°C: negligible
Vapour pressure, Pa at 100°C: 14
Relative vapour density (air = 1): 7.85
Octanol/water partition coefficient as log Pow: 1.60  

FIRST AID MEASURES of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Description of first-aid measures:
*General advice:
Show this material safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.

*If inhaled:
Fresh air, rest. 
Artificial respiration may be needed. 
Refer for medical attention.  
Fresh air. 
If breathing stops: mouth-to-mouth breathing or artificial respiration. 
Oxygen if necessary. 
Immediately call in physician.

*In case of skin contact:
Remove contaminated clothes. 
Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap. 
Refer for medical attention . 
Wear protective gloves when administering first aid. 
Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. 
Rinse skin with water/ shower. 
Consult a physician.

*In case of eye contact:
First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention. 
Rinse out with plenty of water. 
Call in ophthalmologist. 
Remove contact lenses.
*If swallowed:
After swallowing: 
Immediately make victim drink water (two glasses at most). 
Consult a physician.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures:
Advice for non-emergency personnel: 
Ensure adequate ventilation. 
Evacuate the danger area, observe emergency procedures, consult an expert.
-Environmental precautions:
Do not let product enter drains. 
-Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Cover drains. 
Collect, bind, and pump off spills. 
Observe possible material restrictions. 
Take up with liquid-absorbent material.
Dispose of properly. 
Clean up affected area.

FIREFIGHTING MEASURES of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Foam Carbon dioxide (CO2) Dry powder
Unsuitable extinguishing media:
For this substance/mixture no limitations of extinguishing agents are given.
-Advice for firefighters:
Stay in danger area only with self-contained breathing apparatus. 
Prevent skin contact by keeping a safe distance or by wearing suitable protective clothing.
-Further information:
Remove container from danger zone and cool with water. 
Suppress (knock down) gases/vapors/mists with a water spray jet. 
Prevent fire extinguishing water from contaminating surface water or the ground water system.

EXPOSURE CONTROLS/PERSONAL PROTECTION of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Control parameters:
Ingredients with workplace control parameters:
-Exposure controls:
Personal protective equipment:
*Eye/face protection:
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU). Safety glasses.
*Skin protection:
Required
*Respiratory protection:
The entrepeneur has to ensure that maintenance, cleaning and testing of respiratory protective devices are carried out according to the instructions of the producer.
These measures have to be properly documented.
*Control of environmental exposure:
Do not let product enter drains. 

HANDLING and STORAGE of TRINITROTOLUENE:
-Precautions for safe handling:
Advice on safe handling:
Work under hood. 
Do not inhale substance/mixture. 
Hygiene measures:
Immediately change contaminated clothing. 
Apply preventive skin protection. 
Wash hands and face after working with substance.
*Storage conditions:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place. 
Well closed. 
Store in an area without drain or sewer access. 
*Storage stability:
Recommended storage temperature: -20 °C
PACKAGING:
Unbreakable packaging.
Put breakable packaging into closed unbreakable container.

SYNONYMS:
Trotyl
2-Methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene
s-Trinitrotoluene
1-methyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene
TNT
Sym-trinitrotoluene
Trinitrotoluol
Methyltrinitrobenzene
1 -methyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene
a-trinitrotoluol
s-trinitrotoluene
s-trinitrotoluol
sym-trinitrotoluen
sym-trinitrotoluol
tritol
triton
trotyl
tolite