Nobel and nitroglycerin

Alfred Nobel
1833-1896

In this "explosive" podcast, Mark and Jack discuss nitroglycerin and the man responsible for inventing dynamite, Alfred Nobel. Listeners will get a bang out of learning what differentiates high explosives from low explosives and how these molecules "do what they do" from a chemical and physical perspective. So sit back and have a blast listening about why Nobel founded the prestigious international prizes that bear his name.

Podcast length: 34:37

Show Notes:

Selected Awards and Publications associated with Alfred Nobel:

US Patent Certificate for one of Nobel's 355 patents.
Alfred Nobel’s patents. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Media AB 2020. Thu. 23 Jul 2020. <https://www.nobelprize.org/alfred-nobel/list-of-alfred-nobels-patents/>
The will.
The Nobel Prize

Discussed in the episode:

  • Benzene (Aromatic molecular hydrocarbon compound) -- C6H6

Properties:

  • Liquid @ room temperature

  • Insoluble in water

  • Boiling Point = 353.1 K

  • Toluene (Derivative of an aromatic molecular hydrocarbon compound) -- CH3C6H5

Properties:

  • Liquid @ room temperature

  • Insoluble in water

  • Boiling Point = 384 K

  • Trinitrotoluene, TNT (Derivative of an aromatic molecular compound) -- CH3C6H2(NO2)3

Properties:

  • Solid @ room temperature

  • Insoluble in water

  • Melting Point = 353 K

  • Glycerin (organic molecular compound) -- C3H5(OH)3

Properties:

  • Viscous liquid @ room temperature

  • Soluble in water

  • Boiling Point = 563 K

  • Nitroglycerin (organic molecular compound) -- C3H5(OH)3

Properties:

  • Viscous oily liquid @ room temperature

  • Slightly soluble in water

  • Boiling Point = 323 K

  • Stick of dynamite (parts shown)

A = mixture of diatomaceous earth and nitroglycerin

B = Protective cover

C= Blasting cap

D = Fuse

Ascanio Sobrero

Discovered nitroglycerin in 1847