Nitroglycerin chemical bonds

Typical materials containing oxygen and nitrogen atoms are nitrate esters, such as nitrocellulose (NC) and nitroglycerin (NG). Nitrate esters contain -O-NO2 chemical bonds in their structures. The oxidizer component is represented by the oxygen atoms and the fuel components are the carbon and hydrogen atoms. The oxidized combustion products are COj and HjO, the AHjp values of which are -8.94 MJ... 

Both the explosive nature of nitroglycerin and its effectiveness in treating such conditions as heart disease and erectile dysfunction can be illuminated by an understanding of the basic concepts of chemical bonding. 

Of the eight nonmetals listed in Table 21.1, nitrogen is by far the least reactive. Its inertness is due to the strength of the triple bond holding the N2 molecule together (B.E. N=N = 941 kj/mol). This same factor explains why virtually all chemical explosives are compounds of nitrogen (e.g., nitroglycerin, trinitrotoluene, ammonium nitrate,... 

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