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Nitrostarch
Identifiers
Properties
(C6H7N3O11)n
Appearance Light yellow powder
Insoluble
Solubility Soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, nitric acid
Thermochemistry
10797.65 J/g
9279.69 J/g
Related compounds
Related compounds
 Starch
Nitrocellulose
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Nitrostarch is a secondary explosive[1] similar to nitrocellulose. Much like starch, it is made up of two components, nitrated amylose and nitrated amylopectin. Nitrated amylopectin generally has a greater solubility than amylose; however, it is less stable than nitrated amylose.[2]

The solubility, detonation velocity, and impact sensitivity depend heavily on the level of nitration.[2]

Synthesis

Nitrostarch is made by dissolving starch in red fuming nitric acid. It is then precipitated by adding the solution to concentrated sulfuric acid.[2]

Nitrostarch can be stabilized by refluxing it in ethanol to drive off the left over nitric acid.[2]

History

Nitrostarch was first discovered by French chemist and pharmacist Henri Braconnot.[3]

After stabilizers (such as ammonium oxalate) were devised in the early 1900s to prolong its shelf life, it was started to be used as an industrial explosive.[4]

During World War I, it was used as a filler in hand grenades.[5]

References

  1. ^ Robert Turkington (26 October 2009). Chemicals Used for Illegal Purposes. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 295–. ISBN 978-0-470-18780-7.
  2. ^ a b c d Liu, Jiping (2019), "Nitrostarch", Nitrate Esters Chemistry and Technology, Singapore: Springer Singapore, pp. 581–598, doi:10.1007/978-981-13-6647-5_11, ISBN 978-981-13-6645-1, S2CID 239210636, retrieved 2022-02-25
  3. ^ John Pichtel (15 September 2016). Terrorism and WMDs: Awareness and Response, Second Edition. Taylor & Francis. pp. 207–. ISBN 978-1-4987-3901-6.
  4. ^ Reese, Charles L. (1924-12-01). "Twenty-five years' progress in explosives". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 198 (6): 745–768. doi:10.1016/S0016-0032(24)90453-4. ISSN 0016-0032.
  5. ^ Zakaria Abdel-rahman Shalash (1955). Studies on nitration of starch stabilization and explosive prop...
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrostarch