Question

Which of the following is not used as an explosive?
(A) Trinitrotoluene
(B) Trinitrobenzene
(C) Picric acid
(D) Nitrobenzene

Answer 1

Hint: An explosive substance is a solid, liquid, or mixture that, by chemical reaction, is capable of releasing gas at a temperature, pressure, and speed high enough to harm the environment. An organic compound is said to be explosive if its explosion leads to highly stable compounds with the release of energy.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a solid organic compound that is mostly used as an explosive. It is a pale yellow colour. It is not very sensitive to shock and requires a detonator to explode. It is the most popular chemical explosive and is widely employed in weapons and demolitions for these reasons.

Trinitrobenzene is a strong explosive when it is dry. Harmful nitrogen oxides are produced when trinitrobenzene is exposed to heat or fire. Though more explosive than TNT, trinitrobenzene is too costly. Military and commercial mining operations utilise it mainly as a highly explosive compound.

Picric acid is also mainly used as an explosive. Dried-out picric acid should be handled with caution because it could explode if exposed to heat, flame, friction, or shock. When combined with bases, metals, ammonia, concrete, and other oxidising substances, picric acid can react violently and produce salts that are unstable.

However, nitrobenzene is not explosive. It is a stable compound up to about${{450}^{o}}C$.

Correct option: (D) Nitrobenzene.

Note: Di or tri nitro compounds are explosive, but mono nitro compounds are not. Nitrobenzene is used in lubricants used in machinery and motors. Nitrobenzene is a very minor component of the pigments, medicines, insecticides, and rubber product manufacturing processes.