Explosophores are
functional group
In organic chemistry, a functional group is a substituent or moiety in a molecule that causes the molecule's characteristic chemical reactions. The same functional group will undergo the same or similar chemical reactions regardless of the re ...
s in
organic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, and reactions of organic compounds and organic materials, i.e., matter in its various forms that contain carbon atoms.Clayden, ...
that give organic compounds
explosive properties.
History
The term was first coined by Russian chemist
V. Pletz in 1935 and originally mistranslated in some articles as plosophore. Also of note is an auxoexplose concept (similar to
chromophore and
auxochrome concept), which is a group that modifies the explosive capability of the molecule.
The term ''explosophore'' has been used more frequently after its use in books such as ''Organic Chemistry of Explosives'' by J. Agrawal and R. Hodgson (2007)'.
Properties
Nitrogen-containing explosophores (groups I, II and III below) are particularly strong because in addition to providing oxygen they react to form molecular nitrogen, which is a very stable molecule, and thus the overall reaction is strongly exothermic. The gas formed also expands, causing the shock wave which is observed.
Classification
Pletz grouped the explosophores into eight distinct categories.
[Warey, Philip. B. ed. New Research on Hazardous Materials, Nova Science Publishers, 2007]
I. −NO2, −ON=O and −ONO2
These represent
* the
nitro group
In organic chemistry, nitro compounds are organic compounds that contain one or more nitro functional groups (). The nitro group is one of the most common explosophores (functional group that makes a compound explosive) used globally. The nitr ...
, a nitrogen atom bound to two oxygen atoms as well as an organic molecule (e.g.
TNT
Trinitrotoluene (), more commonly known as TNT, more specifically 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, and by its preferred IUPAC name 2-methyl-1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H2(NO2)3CH3. TNT is occasionally used as a reagen ...
,
RDX)
* the
nitrate ion, a nitrogen atom bound to three oxygen atoms, (e.g.
nitroglycerin,
ANFO
ANFO ( ) (or AN/FO, for ammonium nitrate/fuel oil) is a widely used bulk industrial explosive. It consists of 94% porous prilled ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) (AN), which acts as the oxidizing agent and absorbent for the fuel, and 6% number 2 fue ...
)
* the
nitrite ion, a nitrogen atom bound to two oxygen atoms
Most commercially used explosives include the nitrate ion or the nitro group.
II. −N=N− and −N−=N+=N−−
The
azo and
azide groups respectively, connected to organic/inorganic compounds (e.g.
AgN3,
Pb(N3)2,
NH4N3)
III. −RnNXm
The halogenated nitrogen group X:halogen (for example
NI3 and
NCl3)
IV. −C=N−O−
The
fulminate
Fulminates are chemical compounds which include the fulminate ion (). The fulminate ion is a pseudohalic ion because its charge and reactivity are similar to those of the halogens. Due to the instability of the ion, fulminate salts are frictio ...
group (example
HONC and
Hg(ONC)2)
V. −OClO2 and −OClO3
The
chlorate and
perchlorate
A perchlorate is a chemical compound containing the perchlorate ion, . The majority of perchlorates are commercially produced salts. They are mainly used as oxidizers for pyrotechnic devices and to control static electricity in food packaging. Per ...
groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g.
KClO3,
FOClO3)
VI. −O−O− and −O3−
The
peroxide
In chemistry, peroxides are a group of compounds with the structure , where R = any element. The group in a peroxide is called the peroxide group or peroxo group. The nomenclature is somewhat variable.
The most common peroxide is hydrogen ...
and
ozonide
Ozonide is the polyatomic anion . Cyclic organic compounds formed by the addition of ozone () to an alkene are also called ozonides.
Ionic ozonides
Inorganic ozonides are dark red salts. The anion has the bent shape of the ozone molecule.
Ino ...
groups respectively, connected to
organics/inorganics (e.g.
acetone peroxide,
butanone peroxide)
VII. −C≡C− M+
The
acetylide
In organometallic chemistry, acetylide refers to chemical compounds with the chemical formulas and , where M is a metal. The term is used loosely and can refer to substituted acetylides having the general structure (where R is an organic side c ...
group with its metal derivatives (e.g.
Ag2C2,
Cu2C2)
VIII. A metal atom connected by an unstable bond to the carbon of certain organic radicals
This class contains for instance organic compounds of
mercury,
thallium
Thallium is a chemical element with the symbol Tl and atomic number 81. It is a gray post-transition metal that is not found free in nature. When isolated, thallium resembles tin, but discolors when exposed to air. Chemists William Crookes an ...
, and
lead
Lead is a chemical element with the symbol Pb (from the Latin ) and atomic number 82. It is a heavy metal that is denser than most common materials. Lead is soft and malleable, and also has a relatively low melting point. When freshly cu ...
.
Other
Other substances have been characterised as explosophores outside of the eight classes as defined by Pletz.
References
{{Reflist
Organic compounds
Explosives