Nitro-glycerine

(-glis'ür-in.) (Chem.) A light, yellow, oily liquid, of sp. gr. 16, prepared by acting on glycerine with strong nitric acid,by which means three of the hydrogen atoms are removed and replaced by three molecules of nitric peroxide. Its composition is CoH5(NO4 306. N.-G. is a most powerful explosive agent, detonating when struck with a hammer, or when exposed to the detonation of fulminating mercury, . When cautiously heated,it decomposes without explosion. Exposed to a low temperature. N -G. freezes to a crystalline ma , and a slight blow will sometimes cause the whole to explode with terrific violence. When mixed with silica or other mineral substance in powder, N.-G. loses its most dangerous properties, and is then known as Dynamite. By graduating the compound, the rapidity of combustion of dynamite, and its explosive power, maybe increased or le ened. It is not inflammable by concu ion, like gunpowder. It is our most powerful explosive agent, and its property of detonating under water renders it especially valuable in the blasting of hard rocks, and in submarine operations generally. A similar compound is named Dualine, differing from the former only as regards its proportions. [s. 648]