AMMONIUM 2,4,6-TRINITROPHENOLATE

Description

Ammonium picrate is a nitro hydrocarbon derivative. It is composed of yellow crystals with not less than 10% water by mass. Ammonium picrate is highly explosive when dry and a flammable solid when wet, and is slightly soluble in water. The four-digit UN identification number for ammonium picrate with not less than 10% water is 1310. The primary uses are in pyrotechnics and explosives.

Chemical properties

Ammonium picrate is a bright yellow crystalline solid, which turns red if contaminated.

The Uses of AMMONIUM 2,4,6-TRINITROPHENOLATE

In explosives, fireworks, rocket propellants.

General Description

A yellow crystalline solid. Produces toxic oxides of nitrogen during decomposition . Easily ignited and burns vigorously. May explode under prolonged exposure to fire or heat. The primary hazard is the blast effect of instantaneous explosion and not from flying projectiles and fragments.

Reactivity Profile

AMMONIUM PICRATE is a high explosive when dry [Hawley]. Mixing with water greatly reduces its sensitivity to shock, friction and heat. Traces of metallic picrates may significantly lower the temperature at which this mixture will explode (Military Explosives p. 96). Self-reactive.

Hazard

A high explosive when dry, flammable when wet.

Health Hazard

Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.

Fire Hazard

MAY EXPLODE AND THROW FRAGMENTS 1600 meters (1 MILE) OR MORE IF FIRE REACHES CARGO.

Safety Profile

An allergen. Moderately irritating to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Moderately flammable by spontaneous chemical reaction. A powerful oxidizer that reacts vigorously with reducing materials. Dangerous explosive when shocked or heated. The presence of trace metals increases its heat sensitivity. See PICRIC ACID, NITRATES, and EXPLOSIVES, HIGH. When heated to decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of NOx.

Potential Exposure

Used in explosives, fireworks and rocket propellants.

Shipping

UN1310 Ammonium picrate, wetted with not , 10% water, by mass, Hazard Class: 4.1; Labels: 4.1- Flammable solid. UN0004 Ammonium picrate, dry or wetted with ,10 % water, by mass, Hazard Class: 1.1D; Labels: 1.1D-Explosives (with a mass explosion hazard); D-Substances or articles which may mass detonate (with blast and/or fragment hazard) when exposed to fire.

Purification Methods

Crystallise it from EtOH and acetone. [Mitchell & Bryant J Am Chem Soc 65 128 1943, Beilstein 6 II 262, 16 III 879, 16 IV 1392.]

Incompatibilities

Explosive when dry. A powerful oxidizer that reacts violently with reducing agents. Dangerous when heated or shocked. Keep away from metals, sodium nitrite, perchlorates, peroxides, permanganates, and any form of shock.