Dinitrogen tetroxide Dinitrogen trioxide Nitric oxide Nitrous oxide
57-438: TNT is trinitrotoluene, an explosive chemical compound. TNT or TnT or T.N.T. may also refer to: TNT Trinitrotoluene ( / ˌ t r aɪ ˌ n aɪ t r oʊ ˈ t ɒ lj u iː n / ), more commonly known as TNT (and more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene , and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene ), is a chemical compound with the formula C 6 H 2 (NO 2 ) 3 CH 3 . TNT
114-513: A trace gas in the atmosphere of Earth , where it plays a role in absorbing sunlight and regulating the chemistry of the troposphere , especially in determining ozone concentrations. Nitrogen dioxide also forms in most combustion processes. At elevated temperatures nitrogen combines with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide: For the general public, the most prominent sources of NO 2 are internal combustion engines , as combustion temperatures are high enough to thermally combine some of
171-532: A pollutant whose removal is a priority. The USEPA maintains that TNT levels in soil should not exceed 17.2 milligrams per kilogram of soil and 0.01 milligrams per litre of water. Dissolution is a measure of the rate that solid TNT in contact with water is dissolved. The relatively low aqueous solubility of TNT causes solid particles to be continuously released to the environment over extended periods of time. Studies have shown that TNT dissolves more slowly in saline water than in freshwater. However, when salinity
228-422: A pressure wave from a starter explosive, called an explosive booster . Although blocks of TNT are available in various sizes (e.g. 250 g, 500 g, 1,000 g), it is more commonly encountered in synergistic explosive blends comprising a variable percentage of TNT plus other ingredients. Examples of explosive blends containing TNT include: Upon detonation , TNT undergoes a decomposition equivalent to
285-424: A very limited amount of mineralization of TNT in a liquid culture, though not in soil. An organism capable of the remediation of large amounts of TNT in soil has yet to be discovered. Both wild and transgenic plants can phytoremediate explosives from soil and water. Nitrogen dioxide Nitrogen dioxide is a chemical compound with the formula NO 2 . One of several nitrogen oxides , nitrogen dioxide
342-581: Is 14.5 GJ/t (14.5 MJ/kg or 4.027 kWh/kg), which requires that the carbon in TNT fully react with atmospheric oxygen, which does not occur in the initial event. For comparison, gunpowder contains 3 MJ/kg, dynamite contains 7.5 MJ/kg, and gasoline contains 47.2 MJ/kg (though gasoline requires an oxidant , so an optimized gasoline and O 2 mixture contains 10.4 MJ/kg). Various methods can be used to detect TNT, including optical and electrochemical sensors and explosive-sniffing dogs. In 2013, researchers from
399-477: Is a free radical , so the formula for nitrogen dioxide is often written as NO 2 . The reddish-brown color is a consequence of preferential absorption of light in the blue region of the spectrum (400–500 nm), although the absorption extends throughout the visible (at shorter wavelengths) and into the infrared (at longer wavelengths). Absorption of light at wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm results in photolysis (to form NO + O , atomic oxygen); in
456-461: Is a function of their ability to associate with the mobile phase (water) and a stationary phase (soil). Materials that associate strongly with soils move slowly through soil. The association constant for TNT with soil is 2.7 to 11 L/kg of soil. This means that TNT has a one- to tenfold tendency to adhere to soil particulates than not when introduced into the soil. Hydrogen bonding and ion exchange are two suggested mechanisms of adsorption between
513-475: Is a major process that impacts the transformation of energetic compounds. The alteration of a molecule in photolysis occurs by direct absorption of light energy or by the transfer of energy from a photosensitized compound. Phototransformation of TNT "results in the formation of nitrobenzenes , benzaldehydes , azodicarboxylic acids, and nitrophenols , as a result of the oxidation of methyl groups , reduction of nitro groups , and dimer formation." Evidence of
570-737: Is a reactive molecule and is particularly prone to react with reduced components of sediments or photodegradation in the presence of sunlight. TNT is thermodynamically and kinetically capable of reacting with a wide number of components of many environmental systems. This includes wholly abiotic reactants, like hydrogen sulfide , Fe , or microbial communities, both oxic and anoxic and photochemical degradation. Soils with high clay contents or small particle sizes and high total organic carbon content have been shown to promote TNT transformation. Possible TNT transformations include reduction of one, two, or three nitro-moieties to amines and coupling of amino transformation products to form dimers . Formation of
627-540: Is a reddish-brown gas. It is a paramagnetic , bent molecule with C 2v point group symmetry . Industrially, NO 2 is an intermediate in the synthesis of nitric acid , millions of tons of which are produced each year, primarily for the production of fertilizers . Nitrogen dioxide is poisonous and can be fatal if inhaled in large quantities. Cooking with a gas stove produces nitrogen dioxide which causes poorer indoor air quality . Combustion of gas can lead to increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide throughout
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#1732793572332684-510: Is altered, TNT dissolves at the same speed. Because TNT is moderately soluble in water, it can migrate through subsurface soil, and cause groundwater contamination. Adsorption is a measure of the distribution between soluble and sediment adsorbed contaminants following attainment of equilibrium. TNT and its transformation products are known to adsorb to surface soils and sediments, where they undergo reactive transformation or remained stored. The movement or organic contaminants through soils
741-421: Is consumed by the manufacturing process, but the diluted sulfuric acid can be reconcentrated and reused. After nitration, TNT can either be purified by crystallization from an organic solvent or stabilized by a process called sulfitation, where the crude TNT is treated with aqueous sodium sulfite solution to remove less stable isomers of TNT and other undesired reaction products. The rinse water from sulfitation
798-423: Is generally saturated with the maximum amount of TNT that will dissolve in water (about 150 parts per million (ppm).) However it has an indefinite composition that depends on the exact process; in particular, it may also contain cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) if the plant uses TNT/RDX mixtures, or HMX if TNT/HMX is used. Red water (also known as "Sellite water") is produced during the process used to purify
855-408: Is known as red water and is a significant pollutant and waste product of TNT manufacture. Control of nitrogen oxides in feed nitric acid is very important because free nitrogen dioxide can result in oxidation of the methyl group of toluene. This reaction is highly exothermic and carries with it the risk of a runaway reaction leading to an explosion. In the laboratory, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene
912-451: Is likely to be lower "than TNT in subsurface environments where specific adsorption to clay minerals dominates the sorption process." Thus, the mobility of TNT and its transformation products are dependent on the characteristics of the sorbent. The mobility of TNT in groundwater and soil has been extrapolated from "sorption and desorption isotherm models determined with humic acids , in aquifer sediments, and soils". From these models, it
969-515: Is listed as a possible human carcinogen , with carcinogenic effects demonstrated in animal experiments with rats, although effects upon humans so far amount to none (according to IRIS of March 15, 2000). Consumption of TNT produces red urine through the presence of breakdown products and not blood as sometimes believed. Some military testing grounds are contaminated with wastewater from munitions programs, including contamination of surface and subsurface waters which may be colored pink because of
1026-408: Is occasionally used as a reagent in chemical synthesis , but it is best known as an explosive material with convenient handling properties. The explosive yield of TNT is considered to be the standard comparative convention of bombs and asteroid impacts. In chemistry , TNT is used to generate charge transfer salts . TNT was first synthesized in 1861 by German chemist Joseph Wilbrand and
1083-403: Is one of the most commonly used explosives for military, industrial, and mining applications. TNT has been used in conjunction with hydraulic fracturing (popularly known as fracking), a process used to acquire oil and gas from shale formations. The technique involves displacing and detonating nitroglycerin in hydraulically induced fractures followed by wellbore shots using pelletized TNT. TNT
1140-404: Is predicted that TNT has a low retention and transports readily in the environment. Compared to other explosives, TNT has a higher association constant with soil, meaning it adheres more with soil than with water. Conversely, other explosives, such as RDX and HMX with low association constants (ranging from 0.06 to 7.3 L/kg and 0 to 1.6 L/kg respectively) can move more rapidly in water. TNT
1197-427: Is produced by a two-step process. A nitrating mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids is used to nitrate toluene to a mixture of mono- and di-nitrotoluene isomers, with careful cooling to maintain temperature. The nitrated toluenes are then separated, washed with dilute sodium bicarbonate to remove oxides of nitrogen, and then carefully nitrated with a mixture of fuming nitric acid and sulfuric acid. TNT
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#17327935723321254-438: Is used are also exposed and are at risk for occupational lung diseases , and NIOSH has set exposure limits and safety standards. Workers in high voltage areas especially those with spark or plasma creation are at risk. Agricultural workers can be exposed to NO 2 arising from grain decomposing in silos; chronic exposure can lead to lung damage in a condition called " silo-filler's disease ". NO 2 diffuses into
1311-400: Is used as a reference point for many other explosives, including nuclear weapons, as their energy content is measured in equivalent tonnes (metric tons, t) of TNT. The energy used by NIST to define the equivalent is 4.184 GJ /t. For safety assessments, it has been stated that the detonation of TNT, depending on circumstances, can release 2.673–6.702 GJ/t. The heat of combustion however
1368-421: Is used for nitrations under anhydrous conditions. NO 2 is used as an intermediate in the manufacturing of nitric acid , as a nitrating agent in the manufacturing of chemical explosives , as a polymerization inhibitor for acrylates , as a flour bleaching agent , and as a room temperature sterilization agent. It is also used as an oxidizer in rocket fuel , for example in red fuming nitric acid ; it
1425-454: Is usually considered more problematic, as TNT has very low soil mobility. Red water is significantly more toxic and as such it has always been considered hazardous waste. It has traditionally been disposed of by evaporation to dryness (as the toxic components are not volatile), followed by incineration. Much research has been conducted to develop better disposal processes. Because of its suitability in construction and demolition, TNT has become
1482-493: Is valued partly because of its insensitivity to shock and friction, with reduced risk of accidental detonation compared to more sensitive explosives such as nitroglycerin . TNT melts at 80 °C (176 °F), far below the temperature at which it will spontaneously detonate, allowing it to be poured or safely combined with other explosives. TNT neither absorbs nor dissolves in water, which allows it to be used effectively in wet environments. To detonate, TNT must be triggered by
1539-543: The Indian Institutes of Technology using noble-metal quantum clusters could detect TNT at the sub- zeptomolar (10 mol/m ) level. TNT is poisonous, and skin contact can cause skin irritation, causing the skin to turn a bright yellow-orange color. During the First World War , female munition workers who handled the chemical found that their skin turned bright yellow, which resulted in their acquiring
1596-512: The nitrogen atom and the oxygen atom is 119.7 pm . This bond length is consistent with a bond order between one and two. Unlike ozone ( O 3 ) the ground electronic state of nitrogen dioxide is a doublet state , since nitrogen has one unpaired electron, which decreases the alpha effect compared with nitrite and creates a weak bonding interaction with the oxygen lone pairs. The lone electron in NO 2 also means that this compound
1653-475: The steric hindrance of the NO 2 group in the ortho position . Research has shown that in freshwater environments, with high abundances of Ca , the adsorption of TNT and its transformation products to soils and sediments may be lower than observed in a saline environment, dominated by K and Na . Therefore, when considering the adsorption of TNT, the type of soil or sediment and the ionic composition and strength of
1710-527: The 20th century amatol , a mixture of TNT with ammonium nitrate , was a widely used military explosive. TNT can be detonated with a high velocity initiator or by efficient concussion. For many years, TNT used to be the reference point for the Figure of Insensitivity . TNT had a rating of exactly 100 on the "F of I" scale. The reference has since been changed to a more sensitive explosive called RDX , which has an F of I rating of 80. The energy density of TNT
1767-618: The United States as defined in Section 302 of the U.S. Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (42 U.S.C. 11002), and it is subject to strict reporting requirements by facilities which produce, store, or use it in significant quantities. Exposure to low levels of NO 2 over time can cause changes in lung function. Cooking with a gas stove is associated with poorer indoor air quality . Combustion of gas can lead to increased concentrations of nitrogen dioxide throughout
TNT (disambiguation) - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-503: The ambient atmosphere, although it does proceed upon NO 2 uptake to surfaces. Such surface reaction is thought to produce gaseous HNO 2 (often written as HONO ) in outdoor and indoor environments. NO 2 is used to generate anhydrous metal nitrates from the oxides: Alkyl and metal iodides give the corresponding nitrates: The reactiivity of nitrogen dioxide toward organic compounds has long been known. For example, it reacts with amides to give N-nitroso derivatives. It
1881-545: The atmosphere the addition of the oxygen atom so formed to O 2 results in ozone. Industrially, nitrogen dioxide is produced and transported as its cryogenic liquid dimer, dinitrogen tetroxide . It is produced industrially by the oxidation of ammonia, the Ostwald Process . This reaction is the first step in the production of nitric acid: It can also be produced by the oxidation of nitrosyl chloride : Instead, most laboratory syntheses stabilize and then heat
1938-405: The crude TNT. It has a complex composition containing more than a dozen aromatic compounds, but the principal components are inorganic salts ( sodium sulfate , sodium sulfite , sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate ) and sulfonated nitroaromatics . Pink and red water are colorless at the time of generation; the color is produced by photolytic reactions under the influence of sunlight. Despite
1995-467: The epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the respiratory epithelium and dissolves. There, it chemically reacts with antioxidant and lipid molecules in the ELF. The health effects of NO 2 are caused by the reaction products or their metabolites, which are reactive nitrogen species and reactive oxygen species that can drive bronchoconstriction , inflammation, reduced immune response, and may have effects on
2052-516: The exudated liquid into the fuze screw thread can form fire channels , increasing the risk of accidental detonation. Fuze malfunction can also result from the liquid migrating into the fuze mechanism. Calcium silicate is mixed with TNT to mitigate the tendency towards exudation. Pink water and red water are two distinct types of wastewater related to trinitrotoluene. Pink water is produced from equipment washing processes after munitions filling or demilitarization operations, and as such
2109-432: The ground water are important factors. The association constants for TNT and its degradation products with clays have been determined. Clay minerals have a significant effect on the adsorption of energetic compounds. Soil properties, such as organic carbon content and cation exchange capacity have significant impacts on the adsorption coefficients. Additional studies have shown that the mobility of TNT degradation products
2166-426: The heart. Acute harm due to NO 2 exposure is rare. 100–200 ppm can cause mild irritation of the nose and throat, 250–500 ppm can cause edema , leading to bronchitis or pneumonia , and levels above 1000 ppm can cause death due to asphyxiation from fluid in the lungs. There are often no symptoms at the time of exposure other than transient cough, fatigue or nausea, but over hours inflammation in
2223-722: The home environment which is linked to respiratory issues and diseases . The LC 50 ( median lethal dose ) for humans has been estimated to be 174 ppm for a 1-hour exposure. It is also included in the NO x family of atmospheric pollutants . Nitrogen dioxide is a reddish-brown gas with a pungent, acrid odor above 21.2 °C (70.2 °F; 294.3 K) and becomes a yellowish-brown liquid below 21.2 °C (70.2 °F; 294.3 K). It forms an equilibrium with its dimer , dinitrogen tetroxide ( N 2 O 4 ), and converts almost entirely to N 2 O 4 below −11.2 °C (11.8 °F; 261.9 K). The bond length between
2280-419: The lungs causes edema. For skin or eye exposure, the affected area is flushed with saline. For inhalation, oxygen is administered, bronchodilators may be administered, and if there are signs of methemoglobinemia , a condition that arises when nitrogen-based compounds affect the hemoglobin in red blood cells, methylene blue may be administered. It is classified as an extremely hazardous substance in
2337-546: The most widely used explosive and thus its toxicity is the most characterized and reported. Residual TNT from manufacture, storage, and use can pollute water, soil, the atmosphere , and the biosphere . The concentration of TNT in contaminated soil can reach 50 g/kg of soil, where the highest concentrations can be found on or near the surface. In September 2001, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) declared TNT
TNT (disambiguation) - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-520: The names, red and pink water are not necessarily different shades; the color depends mainly on the duration of solar exposure. If exposed long enough, "pink" water may turn various shades of pink, red, rusty orange, or black. Because of the toxicity of TNT, the discharge of pink water to the environment has been prohibited in the US and many other countries for decades, but ground contamination may exist in very old plants. However, RDX and tetryl contamination
2451-400: The nickname " canary girls " or simply "canaries". People exposed to TNT over a prolonged period tend to experience anemia and abnormal liver functions. Blood and liver effects, spleen enlargement and other harmful effects on the immune system have also been found in animals that ingested or breathed trinitrotoluene. There is evidence that TNT adversely affects male fertility . TNT
2508-428: The nitric acid to accelerate the decomposition. For example, the thermal decomposition of some metal nitrates generates NO 2 : Alternatively, dehydration of nitric acid produces nitronium nitrate ... ...which subsequently undergoes thermal decomposition: NO 2 is generated by the reduction of concentrated nitric acid with a metal (such as copper): Nitric acid decomposes slowly to nitrogen dioxide by
2565-514: The nitro functional groups and soil colloids. The number of functional groups on TNT influences the ability to adsorb into soil. Adsorption coefficient values have been shown to increase with an increase in the number of amino groups. Thus, adsorption of the TNT decomposition product 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene (2,4-DANT) was greater than that for 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT), which was greater than that for TNT. Lower adsorption coefficients for 2,6-DNT compared to 2,4-DNT can be attributed to
2622-409: The nitrogen and oxygen in the air to form NO 2 . Outdoors, NO 2 can be a result of traffic from motor vehicles. Indoors, exposure arises from cigarette smoke, and butane and kerosene heaters and stoves. Indoor exposure levels of NO 2 are, on average, at least three times higher in homes with gas stoves compared to electric stove. Workers in industries where NO 2
2679-556: The overall reaction: The nitrogen dioxide so formed confers the characteristic yellow color often exhibited by this acid. However, the reaction is too slow to be a practical source of NO 2 . At low temperatures, NO 2 reversibly converts to the colourless gas dinitrogen tetroxide ( N 2 O 4 ): The exothermic equilibrium has enthalpy change Δ H = −57.23 kJ/mol . At 150 °C (302 °F; 423 K), NO 2 decomposes with release of oxygen via an endothermic process ( Δ H = 14 kJ/mol ): As suggested by
2736-455: The photolysis of TNT has been seen due to the color change to pink of TNT-containing wastewaters when exposed to sunlight. Photolysis is more rapid in river water than in distilled water. Ultimately, photolysis affects the fate of TNT primarily in the aquatic environment but could also affect the fate of TNT in soil when the soil surface is exposed to sunlight. The ligninolytic physiological phase and manganese peroxidase system of fungi can cause
2793-409: The presence of TNT. Such contamination, called "pink water", may be difficult and expensive to remedy . TNT is prone to exudation of dinitrotoluenes and other isomers of trinitrotoluene when projectiles containing TNT are stored at higher temperatures in warmer climates. Exudation of impurities leads to formation of pores and cracks (which in turn cause increased shock sensitivity). Migration of
2850-542: The reaction plus some of the reactions and The reaction is exothermic but has a high activation energy in the gas phase (~62 kcal/mol). The condensed phases (solid or liquid) show markedly lower activation energies of roughly 35 kcal/mol due to unique bimolecular decomposition routes at elevated densities. Because of the production of carbon , TNT explosions have a sooty appearance. Because TNT has an excess of carbon, explosive mixtures with oxygen-rich compounds can yield more energy per kilogram than TNT alone. During
2907-647: The ship. The British started replacing Lyddite with TNT in 1907. The United States Navy continued filling armour-piercing shells with explosive D after some other nations had switched to TNT, but began filling naval mines , bombs , depth charges , and torpedo warheads with burster charges of crude grade B TNT with the color of brown sugar and requiring an explosive booster charge of granular crystallized grade A TNT for detonation. High-explosive shells were filled with grade A TNT, which became preferred for other uses as industrial chemical capacity became available for removing xylene and similar hydrocarbons from
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#17327935723322964-518: The toluene feedstock and other nitrotoluene isomer byproducts from the nitrating reactions. In industry, TNT is produced in a three-step process. First, toluene is nitrated with a mixture of sulfuric and nitric acid to produce mononitrotoluene (MNT). The MNT is separated and then renitrated to dinitrotoluene (DNT). In the final step, the DNT is nitrated to trinitrotoluene (TNT) using an anhydrous mixture of nitric acid and oleum . Nitric acid
3021-472: The two monoamino transformation products, 2-ADNT and 4-ADNT, is energetically favored, and therefore is observed in contaminated soils and ground water. The diamino products are energetically less favorable, and even less likely are the triamino products. The transformation of TNT is significantly enhanced under anaerobic conditions as well as under highly reducing conditions. TNT transformations in soils can occur both biologically and abiotically. Photolysis
3078-528: The weakness of the N–O bond, NO 2 is a good oxidizer. Consequently, it will combust, sometimes explosively, in the presence of hydrocarbons . NO 2 reacts with water to give nitric acid and nitrous acid : This reaction is one of the steps in the Ostwald process for the industrial production of nitric acid from ammonia. This reaction is negligibly slow at low concentrations of NO 2 characteristic of
3135-469: Was not considered an explosive for the purposes of manufacture and storage. The German armed forces adopted it 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
3192-479: Was originally used as a yellow dye. Its potential as an explosive was not recognized for three decades, mainly because it was so much less sensitive than other explosives known at the time. Its explosive properties were discovered in 1891 by another German chemist, Carl Häussermann. TNT can be safely poured when liquid into shell cases, and is so insensitive that in 1910 it was exempted from the UK's Explosives Act 1875 and
3249-599: Was used in the Titan rockets , to launch Project Gemini , in the maneuvering thrusters of the Space Shuttle , and in uncrewed space probes sent to various planets. Nitrogen dioxide typically arises via the oxidation of nitric oxide by oxygen in air (e.g. as result of corona discharge ): NO 2 is introduced into the environment by natural causes, including entry from the stratosphere , bacterial respiration, volcanos, and lightning. These sources make NO 2
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