Picramic acid

Chemical properties

dark red crystals

The Uses of Picramic acid

manufacture of azo dyes; rarely as indicator (yellow with acids, red with alkalies); reagent for albumin.

General Description

Dark red needles or prisms. Red crystals. Water insoluble. Explosive in the dry state but desensitized by wetting. Easily ignited and once ignited burn readily.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Picramic acid should not be subjected to strong shock or heat, and is a dangerous fire risk. Picramic acid reacts with strong oxidizing agents. . Explodes if dried and exposed to heat, flame, friction or shock. Wetting greatly reduces this tendency. Treat as an explosive. Mixing with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides, nitrides, and alkali metals may lead to a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation. May explode in the presence of a base such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, even in the presence of water or organic solvents. May be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. An amino acid (reacts as an acid with bases and as a base with acids).

Fire Hazard

Picramic acid ignites rapidly and burns relatively fast.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable