Nitroglycerin is a heavy, oily, colourless liquid that is highly explosive and is so unstable
that the slightest jolt, impact, or friction may cause it to spontaneously combust. Nitroglycerin
can cause an explosion three times as powerful as that of an equal amount of gunpowder. The
molecular formula of nitroglycerin is 𝐶3 𝐻5 𝑁3 𝑂9 and its IUPAC name is [1, 2, 3 –
trinitroxypropane]. Nitroglycerin is used as an active ingredient in manufacturing explosives as
well as by doctors as medication.
How is it made?
In 1846, an Italian chemist, Ascanio Sobrero, discovered nitroglycerin in Turin, Italy.
Nitroglycerin derives from the nitrating of glycerol, meaning glycerol is treated with a mixture of
nitric and sulphuric acid. The reaction is highly exothermic, and will result in an explosion of
nitroglycerin. To prevent the explosion from the reaction, the mixture must be cooled as the
reaction occurs. In the earlier years, chemists made nitroglycerin by slowly adding glycerol to
concentrated metric and sulphuric acids, and a layer of nitroglycerin would form on top of the
acids. The layer of nitroglycerin would then be drawn off, and washed with water, then with a
sodium carbonate solution. However, today, nitroglycerin is made in smaller, safer portions in a
special tank called a Biazzi nitrator.
𝟒𝑪𝟑 𝑯𝟓 𝑵𝟑 𝑶𝟗 (𝒔) → 𝟔𝑵𝟐 (𝒈) + 𝟏𝟐𝑪𝑶(𝒈) + 𝟏𝟎𝑯𝟐 𝑶(𝒈) + 𝟕𝑶𝟐 (𝒈)
The above is the chemical equation of a nitroglycerin explosion.
How is it used? How does it affect us?
In the early years, nitroglycerin was not widely used because it was extremely difficult to
predict under which conditions nitroglycerin would explode. In Stockholm, Swedish chemist,
Alfred Nobel, spent several years to develop nitroglycerin as an effective explosive. The
outcome of Nobel’s work was that he developed a detonating cap that was ideal for blasting
nitroglycerin. In 1867, Nobel patented dynamite, a development that allowed for safe and
convenient measures for transporting nitroglycerin; it was formed by mixing nitroglycerin with
silica turning the liquid into a paste. The invention of dynamite allowed for many industrial
applications of nitroglycerin, such as mining and demolition. However when World War I
began, nitroglycerin-based explosives, including dynamite, invented by Nobel contributed to the
mass destruction of the war. Being a pacifist and not wanting to be remembered for creating
explosives that caused such a great deal of death and bloodshed, Nobel created the Nobel Prizes
for achievements in science, medicine, and peace.
Aside from being a powerful explosive, nitroglycerin has medicinal applications as well.
In the earlier years, doctors had discovered that amyl nitrite; a substance discovered a few years
before nitroglycerin, was able to relieve chest pain and lowered blood pressure. Unfortunately,
amyl nitrite also caused severe headaches, which actually led doctors to look into the effects of
nitroglycerin on heart and blood conditions. Today, doctors use nitroglycerin to treat angina,
severe chest pain which occurs when the heart does not receive enough oxygen from the blood.
Nitroglycerin causes the blood vessels to widen, reducing the work-load for the heart, which
allows more blood and oxygen to reach the heart. Patients often take nitroglycerin in the form of
a tablet to relieve an angina attack; the tablet is placed on the cheek or under the tongue to
dissolve because swallowing it actually delays its effectiveness. One may also find nitroglycerin
in the form of an oral spray. Nitroglycerin patches containing a supply of the medication that are
attached to the skin like a bandage are available and help in preventing angina. Nitroglycerin
can also be found in the form of a capsule or an ointment.
Did you know that ...

In 1864, while Alfred was experimenting safer ways to handle the highly explosive
nitroglycerin, his brother, Emil, and many workers were killed in a nitroglycerin
explosion at the family’s factory in Heleneborg, Sweden.

Occasional exposure to high doses of nitroglycerin can cause severe headaches known as
“NG Head”. These severe headaches possess the ability to incapacitate some people.
However, after long-term exposure, such as in nitroglycerin manufacturing facilities,
humans develop a tolerance to nitroglycerin and dependence on it as well. Withdrawal of
exposure may potentially be fatal; withdrawal causes headaches and heart problems, but
these symptoms disappear upon re-exposure to nitroglycerin.

Researchers at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario have discovered that
nitroglycerin may potentially be able to treat prostate cancer. While large doses of
nitroglycerin are used to treat angina, researchers at Queen’s University believe that at
very small doses, nitroglycerin may potentially slow down and even halt the progression
of prostate cancer without having the severe side effects of current treatments.
Sources:
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"Emil Nobel". Nobelprize.org. 3 June 2010
<http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/industrial/articles/vinterviken/emil.html>
Linhardt, Robert J. "Nitroglycerin.". World Book Online, 2010. Web. 1 June 2010
<http://worldbookonline.com/student/article?id=ar392440&gr=Welcome+S.D.39+Vanco
uver>
“Nitroglycerin.” 31 May 2010
<http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/rzepa/mim/environmental/html/nitroglyc_text.htm>
“Nitroglycerin.” 3 June 2010 <http://www.medicinenet.com/nitroglycerin/article.htm>
"Nitroglycerine and Dynamite". Nobelprize.org. 1 June 2010
<http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/articles/life-work/nitrodyn.html>
“Nitroglycerin Patch.” 3 June 2010
<http://www.capitalhealth.ca/EspeciallyFor/HeartSchool/HeartMedications/Nitro_Patch.
htm>
Queen’s University. “Using Nitroglycerin to Treat Prostate Cancer Shows Potential to
Halt Disease.” ScienceDaily 11 February 2010. 3 June 2010
<http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100209091844.htm>
“A Short History on Nitroglycerin.” BioInfo Bank 1971. Web. May 31 2010.
<http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:10779131>
Images:
 http://www.infohealth.info/images/220px-Nitroglycerin-2D-skeletal.png
 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Nirtoglycerin_3D_BallStick.png
 http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/articles/life-work/images/sobrero.gif
 http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/92775789_96c7a3c628_m.jpg
 http://nobelprize.org/alfred_nobel/biographical/articles/life-work/nitrodyn.html
 http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/webprojects2006/Macgee/Web%20Project/alfred_nobel.jpg
 http://theblackcommenter.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/noble-peace-prize.jpg
 http://medicalmile.com/images/stories/eds/medicalmilenitropillcloseup2.jpg
 http://www.clivir.com/pictures/heart_disease/angina.jpg
 http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/50264851/Nitroglycerin_Spray.jpg
 http://www.cra.org/Activities/craw_archive/cdmp/awards/2006/Gomes/graphics/queens.j
pg