Explosophore

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Explosophores are functional groups in organic chemistry that give organic compounds explosive properties.

Contents

History

The term was first coined by Russian chemist V. Pletz in 1935 [1] and originally mistranslated in some articles as plosophore[ citation needed ]. Also of note is an auxoexplose concept (similar to chromophore and auxochrome concept), which is a group that modifies the explosive capability of the molecule. The term explosophore has been used more frequently after its use in books such as Organic Chemistry of Explosives by J. Agrawal and R. Hodgson (2007)'.[ citation needed ]

Properties

Nitrogen-containing explosophores (groups I, II and III below) are particularly strong because in addition to providing oxygen they react to form molecular nitrogen, which is a very stable molecule, and thus the overall reaction is strongly exothermic. The gas formed also expands, causing the shock wave which is observed.

Classification

Pletz grouped the explosophores into eight distinct categories. [2] [3]

I. −NO2, −ON=O and −ONO2

These represent

Most commercially used explosives include the nitrate ion or the nitro group.

II. −N=N− and −N=N+=N

The azo and azide groups respectively, connected to organic/inorganic compounds (e.g. AgN3, Pb(N3)2, NH4N3)

III. −RnNXm

The halogenated nitrogen group X:halogen (for example NI3 and NCl3)

IV. −C=N−O−

The fulminate group (example HONC and Hg(ONC)2)

V. −OClO2 and −OClO3

The chlorate and perchlorate groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g. KClO3, FOClO3)

VI. −O−O− and −O3

The peroxide and ozonide groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g. acetone peroxide, butanone peroxide)

VII. −C≡C M+

The acetylide group with its metal derivatives (e.g. Ag2C2, Cu2C2)

VIII. A metal atom connected by an unstable bond to the carbon of certain organic radicals

This class contains for instance organic compounds of mercury, thallium, and lead.

Other

Other substances have been characterised as explosophores outside of the eight classes as defined by Pletz.

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Nitrite Portmanteau name for nitrite derivatives

The nitrite ion has the chemical formula NO
2
. Nitrite is widely used throughout chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The nitrite anion is a pervasive intermediate in the nitrogen cycle in nature. The name nitrite can also refer to organic compounds with the – ONO group, which are esters of nitrous acid.

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In organic chemistry, nitration is a general class of chemical processes for the introduction of a nitro group into an organic compound. The term also is applied incorrectly to the different process of forming nitrate esters between alcohols and nitric acid. The difference between the resulting molecular structures of nitro compounds and nitrates is that the nitrogen atom in nitro compounds is directly bonded to a non-oxygen atom, whereas in nitrate esters, the nitrogen is bonded to an oxygen atom that in turn usually is bonded to a carbon atom.

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3
), carbonate (CO2−
3
), and guanidinium (C(NH
2
)+
3
). In organic chemistry, planar, three-connected carbon centers that are trigonal planar are often described as having sp2 hybridization.

Cyanate

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Uranyl

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2
. It has a linear structure with short U–O bonds, indicative of the presence of multiple bonds between uranium and oxygen. Four or more ligands may be bound to the uranyl ion in an equatorial plane around the uranium atom. The uranyl ion forms many complexes, particularly with ligands that have oxygen donor atoms. Complexes of the uranyl ion are important in the extraction of uranium from its ores and in nuclear fuel reprocessing.

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Silver(I,III) oxide Chemical compound

Silver(I,III) oxide or tetrasilver tetraoxide is the inorganic compound with the formula Ag4O4. It is a component of silver zinc batteries. It can be prepared by the slow addition of a silver(I) salt to a persulfate solution e.g. AgNO3 to a Na2S2O8 solution. It adopts an unusual structure, being a mixed-valence compound. It is a dark brown solid that decomposes with evolution of O2 in water. It dissolves in concentrated nitric acid to give brown solutions containing the Ag2+ ion.

Oxygen compounds

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Radical (chemistry) Atom, molecule, or ion that has an unpaired valence electron; typically highly reactive

In chemistry, a free radical is an atom, molecule, or ion that has at least one unpaired valence electron. With some exceptions, these unpaired electrons make radicals highly chemically reactive. Many radicals spontaneously dimerize. Most organic radicals have short lifetimes.

Compounds of zinc are chemical compounds containing the element zinc which is a member of the group 12 of the periodic table. The oxidation state of most compounds is the group oxidation state of +2. Zinc may be classified as a post-transition main group element with zinc(II). Zinc compounds are noteworthy for their nondescript behavior, they are generally colorless, do not readily engage in redox reactions, and generally adopt symmetrical structures.

Molecular oxohalides (oxyhalides) are a group of chemical compounds in which both oxygen and halogen atoms are attached to another chemical element A in a single molecule. They have the general formula AOmXn, X = F, Cl, Br, I. The element A may be a main group element, a transition element or an actinide. The term oxohalide, or oxyhalide, may also refer to minerals and other crystalline substances with the same overall chemical formula, but having an ionic structure.

Thorium(IV) nitrate Chemical compound

Thorium(IV) nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula Th(NO3)4. A white solid in its anhydrous form, it can form tetra- and pentahydrates. As a salt of thorium it is weakly radioactive.

References

  1. Pletz, V. J. Gen. Chem. (U.S.S.R.) 5, 173 (1935)
  2. Handrick, G.R., Lothrop, W.C. Chem. Rev., 1949, 44 (3) p 419–445
  3. Warey, Philip. B. ed. New Research on Hazardous Materials, Nova Science Publishers, 2007