The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

200 NITRIC ESTERS
formed. This at a lower temperature adds chlorine normally to
form 1,2,3-trichloropropane which gives glycerin on hydrolysis.
CH3 CH2—Cl CH2—Cl CH2—OH CH2—ONO2
CH > CH > CH—Cl > CH—OH Cl > ICH—ONO2
I I I I I
CH2 CH2 CH2—Cl CHr-OH CH2—ONO2
Nitroglyeerin is formed and remains in solution if glycerin is
added to a large excess of strong nitric acid. Heat is evolved, and
FIGURE 52. Nitroglycerin Nitrating House. (Courtesy E. I. du Pont de
Nemours and Company, Inc.)
cooling is necessary. The nitroglycerin is thrown out as a heavy
oil when the solution is diluted with water. A further quantity
of the substance is procured by extracting the dilute acid liquors
with chloroform. Naoum " reports that 100 grams of glycerin
treated in this manner with 1000 grams of 99% nitric acid yields
207.2 grams of nitroglycerin analyzing 18.16% nitrogen (calc.
18.50% N) and containing a small amount of dinitroglycerin
(glyceryl dinitrate). The yield of the trinitrate may be improved
by the addition to the nitric acid of dehydrating agents such as
phosphorus pentoxide, calcium nitrate, or strong sulfuric acid.
n Op. tit., pp. 25, 26.