Nitrogelatin is a medication used to alleviate chest pain, also known as angina pectoris. The spelling of this word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA): /ˌnʌɪtrəʊˈdʒɛlətɪn/. The word is divided into syllables as "ni-tro-gel-a-tin". The "ni" is pronounced as "nye", "tro" as "troh", "gel" as "jel", "a" as "uh", and "tin" as "tihn". The combination of its root, "nitro-" (meaning "nitrogen"), and "-gelatin" implies that the compound is made of nitrogen and gelatin, a protein commonly found in animal collagen.
Nitrogelatin is a highly explosive substance derived from nitroglycerin that is used primarily in the production of dynamite. It is a type of gelatinous explosive material created by combining nitroglycerin with a stabilizing agent, typically collodion or guncotton, to reduce its extreme sensitivity to shock and friction.
As a composite explosive, nitrogelatin exhibits powerful and rapid explosive properties due to the inclusion of nitroglycerin, which is highly volatile and sensitive to heat and impact. Nitrogelatin is classified as a high explosive due to its high brisance, which refers to its ability to shatter and fragment objects upon detonation.
The addition of the stabilizing agent in the form of collodion or guncotton provides a physical barrier around the nitroglycerin, preventing it from becoming unstable during storage and transportation. This stabilization process allows nitrogelatin to be stored and handled more safely compared to pure nitroglycerin, making it a key ingredient in various industrial applications and military explosives.
Due to its potent explosive capabilities, nitrogelatin has been widely employed in construction, mining, and demolition industries for activities such as rock blasting, tunneling, and crater formation. It has also played a significant role in military warfare, serving as a component for manufacturing various types of explosives and munitions.
Overall, nitrogelatin is a highly explosive substance that combines the power of nitroglycerin with stabilization agents to create a highly volatile, yet more manageable, explosive material suitable for a range of industrial and military applications.
The word "nitrogelatin" is derived from a combination of two components: "nitro" and "gelatin".
1. Nitro: The prefix "nitro" comes from the Greek word "nitron", meaning "native soda" or "niter" (potassium nitrate). It is commonly associated with compounds that contain the nitro functional group (-NO2), which consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to two oxygen atoms. In the context of explosives and propellants, "nitro" often indicates the presence of nitro groups, which are highly reactive and contribute to the explosive nature of the compound.
2. Gelatin: Gelatin is a protein substance derived from collagen, which is found in the connective tissue and bones of animals. The term "gelatin" dates back to the late 17th century and is derived from the Latin word "gelatina", meaning "jelly-like".