Explosion, nitric acid

Use of the mixed cone, acids to dissolve an organic residue caused a violent explosion. Nitric acid is a very powerful and rapid oxidant and may form unstable fulminic acid or polynitro compounds under these conditions. 

Anhydrous hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride or sulfuric acid react slowly with sodium, while the aqueous solutions react explosively. Nitric acid of density above 1.056 causes ignition of sodium. 

Non-military Explosives Nitric acid is consumed in the production of several explosive chemicals and materials although there is no commercial production of trinitrotoluene (TNT). Nitric acid consumption for these explosives is estimated to be about 10,000 thousand tonnes per year. 

Ammonia, NH3, is used to produce fertilizer, explosives, nitric acid, urea, hydrazine, and amines. 

Home Workshop Explosives also covers the main ingredients for most of these explosives nitric acid and sulphuric acid. It includes a chapter on detonation systems, and detailed safety instructions. 

L-PHENYLDECANE (104-72-3) C, H Combustible liquid (flashpoint 225°F/107°C cc Fire Rating 1). Incompatible with strong oxidizers (may be explosive), nitric acid bases, amines, amides, inorganic hydroxides diazo compounds. Attacks some plastics, mbber, and coatings. On small fires, use dry chemical powder (such as Purple-K-Powder), foam, or COj extinguishers. DECYLENE (872-05-9) C,oH Flammable liquid. Forms explosive mixture with air (flash point 116°F/47°C Fire Rating 2). Violent reaction with strong oxidizers, bromine, perchlorates, perchromates, pyridiniiun perchlorate, peroxyacetic acid. 

Ammonium carbamate ammonium nitrate mfg., explosives Nitric acid... 

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Health, Safety, and Environmental Office. An explosive nitric acid-ethanol mixture available at http //www.ab.ust.hk/sepo/tips/ls/ls005.htm (accessed September 4, 2007). 

Nitric acid is used to make nitrate salts for fertilizer application. Ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate are common. Ammonium nitrate is also used for explosives. Nitric acid is used in the production of adipic acid which in turn is used to make nylon 6,6 and also some polyesters. In the synthesis of adipic acid, cyclohexane is oxidized by a radical process to a mixture of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. This mixture is then oxidized further with nitric acid and a catalyst to adipic acid. 

It is used to make many types of explosive, such as trinitrotoluene (TNT). About 10% of ammonium nitrate is used to make explosives. Nitric acid is also needed in the manufacture of detergents, paints, pigments, dyes and nylon. 

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