Nitrostarch

Nitrostarch

Identifiers
Properties
Chemical formula	(C6H7N3O11)n
Appearance	Light yellow powder
Solubility in water	Insoluble
Solubility	Soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, nitric acid
Thermochemistry
Heat of combustion, higher value (HHV)	10797.65 J/g
Heat of combustion, lower value (LHV)	9279.69 J/g
Related compounds
Related compounds	Starch Nitrocellulose
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Nitrostarch is a secondary explosive[1] similar to nitrocellulose. Much like starch, it is made up of two components, nitrated amylose and nitrated amylopectin. Nitrated amylopectin generally has a greater solubility than amylose; however, it is less stable than nitrated amylose.[2]

The solubility, detonation velocity, and impact sensitivity depend heavily on the level of nitration.[2]

Synthesis

Nitrostarch is made by dissolving starch in red fuming nitric acid. It is then precipitated by adding the solution to concentrated sulfuric acid.[2]

Nitrostarch can be stabilized by refluxing it in ethanol to drive off the left over nitric acid.[2]

History

Nitrostarch was first discovered by French chemist and pharmacist Henri Braconnot.[3]

After stabilizers (such as ammonium oxalate) were devised in the early 1900s to prolong its shelf life, it was started to be used as an industrial explosive.[4]

During World War I, it was used as a filler in hand grenades.[5]

References

1. Robert Turkington (26 October 2009). Chemicals Used for Illegal Purposes. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 295–. ISBN 978-0-470-18780-7.
2. Liu, Jiping (2019), "Nitrostarch", Nitrate Esters Chemistry and Technology, Singapore: Springer Singapore, pp. 581–598, doi:10.1007/978-981-13-6647-5_11, ISBN 978-981-13-6645-1, S2CID 239210636, retrieved 2022-02-25
3. John Pichtel (15 September 2016). Terrorism and WMDs: Awareness and Response, Second Edition. Taylor & Francis. pp. 207–. ISBN 978-1-4987-3901-6.
4. Reese, Charles L. (1924-12-01). "Twenty-five years' progress in explosives". Journal of the Franklin Institute. 198 (6): 745–768. doi:10.1016/S0016-0032(24)90453-4. ISSN 0016-0032.
5. Zakaria Abdel-rahman Shalash (1955). Studies on nitration of starch stabilization and explosive prop...