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Webster 1913 Edition


Nitroglycerine

Niˊtro-glyc′er-in

,

Niˊtro-glyc′er-ine

(nīˊtrō̍-glĭs′ẽr-ĭn)
,
Noun.
[
Nitro-
+
glycerin
.]
(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
; also called
trinitroglycerin
and
glyceryl trinitrate
. 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
.]
☞ 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.

Definition 2024


nitroglycerine

nitroglycerine

See also: nitroglycérine

English

Alternative forms

Noun

nitroglycerine (usually uncountable, plural nitroglycerines)

  1. (organic chemistry) The compound glyceryl-tri-nitrate or 1,2,3 tri-nitrooxy propane; the ester of glycerol with nitric acid; prepared by the careful addition of a mixture of nitric and sulphuric acids to glycerol with constant stirring and cooling; it is a thick, pale yellow liquid, that is highly explosive on concussion or on exposure to sudden heat; it is used in medicine as a vasodilator, and as an explosive in the form of dynamite which is safe to handle.

Translations

See also