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.
Uses
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.
