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Picric acid is the common term for the chemical compound 2,4,6-trinitrophenol; the material is a yellow crystalline solid. Like other highly nitrated compounds (eg. trinitrotoluene), picric acid is an explosive. When picric acid is dry, it is extremely sensitive to shock and friction, so laboratories that use it store it in bottles under a layer of water, rendering it safe. Glass bottles are required, as picric acid can form metal picrate salts that are even more sensitive and hazardous than the acid.

1 Chemistry

Picric acid can be made from phenolPhenol or carbolic acid is a white crystalline solid, with a chemical formula of , a melting point of 43°C, and a boiling point of 182°C at the pressure of 1 atmosphere (or 101080 Pa). It is not a real alcohol, because the hydroxyl group is fixed on a uns, benzeneBenzene Chemical nameBenzene Chemical formulaCH Molecular mass78. 11 g/mol Density0. 8786 g/ml Melting point5. 5 °C Boiling point80. 1 °C Heat of vaporization44. 3 kJ/mol Heat of fusion9. 84 kJ/mol CAS number71-43-2 SMILESC1 CC CC C1 Benzene PhH or benzol, or acetylsalicylic acid ( aspirinAspirin or acetylsalicylic acid is a drug in the family of salicylates, often used as an analgesic (against minor pains and aches), antipyretic (against fever), and anti- inflammatory. It has also an anticoagulant (blood thinning) effect and is used in lo). The most common route is through aspirin, since it is much easier to synthesize picric acid from aspirin.

2 History

Picric acid was first mentioned in the alchemical writings of Glauber in 1742Events January 24 Charles VII Albert becomes Holy Roman Emperor. February 16 Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain. February 18 British attack La Guayra. April 8 The first performance of George Frideric Handel's orat. The old timers made it from nitrating animal horn, silkSilk (SERICVS / Gr. sigma;ηρικoς ("silken") SERES / Gr. Sigma;ηρες ("Chinese") or alternatively < Ch. or ( pronounced "si") meaning "silk", the pictogram representing two strands of silk. is a natural fiber, indigo, natural resin, and the like. Its synthesis from phenol, and the correct determination of its formula, was in 1841. It was not until 1830 did anybody think to use picric acid as an explosive. Before then it was assumed that only the salts of picric acid were explosive, not the acid itself. In 1873 H. Sprengel proved it could be detonated and by 1894 the Russians had worked out a method of manufacture for artillery shells. Soon after, every military power used picric acid as their primary high explosive material. The 20th century saw the decline of picric acid, the replacement being TNT. The downfall was partially due to the acidic nature and the sensitivity of picric acid. Today picric acid is more suited to detonators or booster charges.





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