Different

Explosives
Classification of Explosives based
from:

1. Viewpoint of chemical composition

2. Functioning characteristics
 Viewpoint of chemical composition

Inorganic Compound Organic Compound

• Lead Azide - Pb(N3)2 or PbN6 • Trinitrotoluene (TNT)–

2,4,6Trinitrotoluene – C7H5N3O6 or
• Sodium Azide - NaN3 or N3Na
C7H5(NO2)3
• Ammonium Nitrate - NH4NO3
• Picric acid – 2,4,6 Trinitrophenol –
C6H2OH(NO2)3

• Nitrocellulose - C6H7(NO2)3O5

• Mercury fulminate – Hg(CNO)2

 Inorganic Compound

Lead Azide - Pb(N3)2 or PbN6

It will explode after a fall of

around 150 mm (6 in) or in the
presence of a static discharge of 7
millijoules. Its detonation velocity is
around 5,180 m/s (17,000 ft/s).
 Inorganic Compound

Sodium Azide - NaN3 or N3Na

Sodium azide appears as a

colorless crystalline solid. Burns in
air and may explode if large
quantities are involved.  An
explosion involving sodium azide
may cause burn injury as well as
expose people to the toxic gas,
hydrozoic acid.
 Inorganic Compound

Ammonium Nitrate - NH4NO3

At high enough temperatures,

ammonium nitrate can violently
decompose on its own. This process
creates gases including nitrogen
oxides and water vapor. It is this
rapid release of gases that causes an
explosion. The larger the quantity,
the more risk it will detonate.
 Organic Compound
Trinitrotoluene (TNT)– 2,4,6
Trinitrotoluene – C7H5N3O6 or
C7H5(NO2)3

For each gram of TNT

exploded, 4.184 kilojoules (or 4184 
joules of energy is released.
 Organic Compound

Picric acid – 2,4,6 Trinitrophenol

– C6H2OH(NO2)3

Picric acid is very unstable and

is a flammable /combustible
material. It may be ignited by heat,
sparks, or flames. Dried-out picric
acid may explode if expose to heat,
flame, friction, or shock, 
 Organic Compound

Nitrocellulose - C6H7(NO2)3O5

It is a highly flammable compound

formed by nitrating cellulose through
exposure to nitric acid or another
powerful nitrating agent. The solvent
may evaporate if the solution is spilled,
leaving a plastic film that is easily
ignited and burns very vigorously.
Exposure to heat may evaporate the
solvent leaving a residue that is subject
to self-accelerating decomposition and
may explode if confined or present in
large quantities.
 Organic Compound

Mercury fulminate – Hg(CNO)2

Mercury fulminate is highly

sensitive to friction, heat
and shock and is mainly used as a
trigger for other explosives in
percussion caps and detonators.
Many reactions may cause fire or
explosion.  Risk of fire and
explosion on rapid heating or on
strong shock.
 Functioning characteristics
Propellants or Low Explosives Primary Explosives or indicators
• Black powder • Mercury fulminate

• Smokeless powder • Lead azide

• Firecrackers

Other Explosives
High Explosives

• Ammonium nitrate (AN)

• C-4

• Dynamite
• RDX

• Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
• Chloroacetophenone

• Nitroglycerine (NG)
• Fire bombs

• Plastic explosive
• Demolition and fragmentation explosives

• Picric acid
 Propellants or Low Explosives

Black powder

Black powder is used

as propelling charges in guns and as
blasting agents in mining. It is
relatively insensitive to shock and
friction and must be ignited by
flame or heat.
 
 Propellants or Low Explosives

Smokeless powder

Smokeless powder is a type

of propellant used
in firearms and artillery that
produces less smoke and
less fouling when fired
smokeless powder does not
leave the thick,
heavy fouling of hygroscopic
material associated with black
powder that causes rusting of the
barrel. 
 Propellants or Low Explosives

Firecrackers

Firecrackers are
small explosive device primarily
designed to produce a large amount
of noise, especially in the form of a
loud bang, usually for celebration or
entertainment; any visual effect is
incidental to this goal.
Primary Explosives or Indicators

Mercury Fulminate

Firecrackers are
small explosive device primarily
designed to produce a large amount
of noise, especially in the form of a
loud bang, usually for celebration or
entertainment; any visual effect is
incidental to this goal.
Primary Explosives or Indicators

Lead Azide

It will explode after a fall of

around 150 mm (6 in) or in the
presence of a static discharge of 7
millijoules. Its detonation velocity is
around 5,180 m/s (17,000 ft/s).
 High Explosives

Ammonium nitrate (AN)

At high enough temperatures,

ammonium nitrate can violently
decompose on its own. This process
creates gases including nitrogen
oxides and water vapor. It is this
rapid release of gases that causes an
explosion. The larger the quantity,
the more risk it will detonate.
 High Explosives

Dynamite

Dynamite is an explosive made
of nitroglycerin, sorbents
and stabilizers. Detonating dynamite
is characterized by extremely rapid
decomposition and development of
high pressure. The power developed
by the explosion of a ton
of dynamite is equal to 45,675 tons
raised one foot, or 45,675 foot tons. 
 High Explosives

Nitroglycerine (NG)
High Explosives

Plastic explosive
 High Explosives

Trinitrotoluene (TNT)

Picric acid is very unstable and

is a flammable /combustible
material. It may be ignited by heat,
sparks, or flames. Dried-out picric
acid may explode if expose to heat,
flame, friction, or shock, 
 Functioning characteristics
Propellants or Low Explosives Primary Explosives or indicators
• Black powder • Mercury fulminate

• Smokeless powder • Lead azide

• Firecrackers

Other Explosives
High Explosives

• Ammonium nitrate (AN)

• C-4

• Dynamite
• RDX

• Trinitrotoluene (TNT)
• Chloroacetophenone

• Nitroglycerine (NG)
• Fire bombs

• Plastic explosive
• Demolition and fragmentation explosives

• Picric acid
 Inorganic

1. Propellants
2. Primary explosive
3. High explosivss
4. Ammonium nitrate
5. Dynamite
6. TNT
7. Nitroglycerine
8. Plastic explosives\
9. Picric acids
10.G4
11.RDX
12.Chloroacetophenone
13.Firebombs
1. Molotov coctail
2. Mordern Molotov
3. Demolition and fragmentation
Inorganic