Chemical Properties
Colorless crystals.Soluble in alcohol, acetone, ether; insoluble in water.
Uses
Explosive cap ingredient, medicine (admixed
with at least 10 parts of carbohydrate).
Definition
ChEBI: Mannite hexanitrate is a monosaccharide.
brand name
Nitranitol (Marion
Merrell Dow).
General Description
Colorless needles. Used for filling blasting caps.
Air & Water Reactions
Insoluble in water.
Reactivity Profile
Nitroalkanes, such as Mannitol hexanitrate,wetted with not less than 40% water,or mixture of alcohol and water,by mass, range from slight to strong oxidizing agents. If mixed with reducing agents, including hydrides, sulfides and nitrides, they may begin a vigorous reaction that culminates in a detonation. Nitroalkanes are milder oxidizing agents, but still react violently with reducing agents at higher temperature and pressures. Nitroalkanes react with inorganic bases to form explosive salts. The presence of metal oxides increases the thermal sensitivity of nitroalkanes. Nitroalkanes with more than one nitro group are generally explosive. Nitroalkanes are insoluble in water.
Hazard
Dangerous fire and explosion risk; an initiating explosive.
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
Moderately toxic by
ingestion and inhalation causing a fall in
blood pressure that may result in weakness,
headache, and dizziness. Chronic exposure
may produce methemoglobinemia with
cyanosis. A powerful explosive sensitive to
shock or heat. Upon decomposition it emits
toxic fumes of NOx. See also NITRATES
and EXPLOSIVES, HIGH.
Purification Methods
The hexanitrate crystallises from EtOH or dilute EtOH as silky white needles. EXPLOSIVE (on detonation). [Hayward J Am Chem Soc 73 1974 1951, Patterson & Todd J Chem Soc 2876 1929, Beilstein 1 IV 2841.]
