Trinitrotoluene

Trinitrotoluene or TNT is a pale yellow crystalline, aromatic hydrocarbon compound that melts at 81°C. Trinitrotoluene is an explosive chemical and a part of many explosive mixtures, such as when mixed with ammonium nitrate to form amatol. It is prepared by the nitration of toluene (C₆H₅CH₃), it has a chemical formula of C₆H₂(NO₂)₃CH₃.

In its refined form, Trinitrotoluene is very stable, and unlike nitriglycerin?, it is relatively insensitive to friction, blows or jarring. This means that it must be set off by a detonator?. It does not react with metals or adsorb water, and so is very stable for storage over long periods of time. It is readily acted upon by alkalies to form unstable compounds that are very sensitive to heat and impact.