Chemical Properties
White crystals. Decomposes above 25C, heat of combustion 746
cal/g. Soluble in water.
Uses
Manufacture of propellants and explosives.
Hazard
Explodes on heating, concentrations above
50% in air may explode.
Safety Profile
Poison by ingestion and
intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by
inhalation. Irritating to skin, eyes, and
mucous membranes. Inhalation can cause
headache and nausea. Causes mild narcosis.
A very dangerous explosion hazard;
explodes when heated rapidly. Dissolution is
exothermic and solutions of more than 50%
can explode. mxtures of 90%
trinitromethane + 10% isopropyl alcohol in
polyethylene bottles have exploded. Frozen
mixtures with 2-propanol(lO%) explode
when thawed. Can explode during
distillation. Mixtures with divinyl ketone can
explode at 4℃. When heated to
decomposition it emits toxic fumes of NOx.
See also NITRO COMPOUNDS.
