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Nitroglycerin - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Nitroglycerin : \Ni`tro*glyc"er*in\, n. [Nitro- _ glycerinn.]
(Chem.)
A liquid appearing like a heavy oil, colorless or yellowish,
and consisting of a mixture of several glycerin salts of
nitric acid, and hence more properly called glycerin
nitrate. It is made by the action of nitric acid on glycerin
in the presence of sulphuric acid. It is extremely unstable
and terribly explosive. A very dilute solution is used in
medicine as a neurotic under the name of glonion. [Written
also nitroglycerine.]
Note: A great number of explosive compounds have been
produced by mixing nitroglycerin with different
substances; as, dynamite, or giant powder,
nitroglycerin mixed with siliceous earth;
lithofracteur, nitroglycerin with gunpowder, or with
sawdust and nitrate of sodium or barium; Colonia
powder, gunpowder with nitroglycerin; dualin,
nitroglycerin with sawdust, or with sawdust and nitrate
of potassium and some other substances; lignose, wood
fiber and nitroglycerin.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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