Picrate
Encyclopedia
A picrate is a salt
or an ester
of picric acid
(a 2,4,6-trinitrophenol). But it could also be an additional compound which picric acid
forms with many aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, aliphatic amines, alkalines, and other compounds. These additional compounds are also called picrates even though they are not a salt of picric acid
.
The picrate ion has yellow color. Many picrates are explosives, for example ammonium picrate (known as Dunnite
). Some are used as primary explosives, namely lead picrate
or potassium picrate
which find their use as primers
for cartridge ammunition
. Ferrous picrate is used in some applications as a diesel fuel additive to achieve better mileage
.
Picrates of some metals tend to be significantly more sensitive to impact, friction and shock than picric acid itself. As a result, storage of picric acid (or mixtures containing it) in metal containers is strongly discouraged due to the high risk of accidental explosion.
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
or an ester
Ester
Esters are chemical compounds derived by reacting an oxoacid with a hydroxyl compound such as an alcohol or phenol. Esters are usually derived from an inorganic acid or organic acid in which at least one -OH group is replaced by an -O-alkyl group, and most commonly from carboxylic acids and...
of picric acid
Picric acid
Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol . This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive...
(a 2,4,6-trinitrophenol). But it could also be an additional compound which picric acid
Picric acid
Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol . This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive...
forms with many aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, aliphatic amines, alkalines, and other compounds. These additional compounds are also called picrates even though they are not a salt of picric acid
Picric acid
Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol . This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive...
.
The picrate ion has yellow color. Many picrates are explosives, for example ammonium picrate (known as Dunnite
Dunnite
Dunnite, also known as Explosive D or systematically as ammonium picrate, is an explosive developed by Major Dunn in 1906. Ammonium picrate is a salt formed by reacting picric acid and ammonia....
). Some are used as primary explosives, namely lead picrate
Lead picrate
Lead picrate, Pb2, is an initiating explosive, and thus highly sensitive.For demonstration purposes, it can be most easily and safely prepared in situ. Picric acid is mixed with red lead , and then heated. It is not recommended that more than 50mg is ever made at any one time. At around...
or potassium picrate
Potassium picrate
Potassium picrate, or potassium 2,4,6-trinitrophenolate, is an organic chemical, a picrate of potassium. It is a reddish yellow or green crystalline material. It is a primary explosive...
which find their use as primers
Percussion cap
The percussion cap, introduced around 1830, was the crucial invention that enabled muzzleloading firearms to fire reliably in any weather.Before this development, firearms used flintlock ignition systems which produced flint-on-steel sparks to ignite a pan of priming powder and thereby fire the...
for cartridge ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
. Ferrous picrate is used in some applications as a diesel fuel additive to achieve better mileage
Mileage
-Motor Vehicles:* Fuel economy in automobiles * Distance travelled as measured by an odometer...
.
Picrates of some metals tend to be significantly more sensitive to impact, friction and shock than picric acid itself. As a result, storage of picric acid (or mixtures containing it) in metal containers is strongly discouraged due to the high risk of accidental explosion.