Editing TNT (section)

== Explosive character ==
Upon [[detonation]], TNT undergoes a decomposition equivalent to the reaction
: 2 C<sub>7</sub>H<sub>5</sub>N<sub>3</sub>O<sub>6</sub> → 3 N<sub>2</sub> + 5 H<sub>2</sub> + 12 CO + 2 C
plus some of the reactions
: {{chem|H|2}} + CO → {{chem|H|2|O}} + C
and
: 2 CO → {{chem|CO|2}} + C.
The reaction is [[exothermic]] but has a high [[activation energy]] in the gas phase (~62 kcal/mol). The condensed phases (solid or liquid) show markedly lower activation energies of roughly 35 kcal/mol due to unique bimolecular decomposition routes at elevated densities.<ref name="Furman Kosloff Dubnikova Zybin pp. 4192–4200">{{cite journal | last1=Furman | first1=David | last2=Kosloff | first2=Ronnie | last3=Dubnikova | first3=Faina | last4=Zybin | first4=Sergey V. | last5=Goddard | first5=William A. | last6=Rom | first6=Naomi | last7=Hirshberg | first7=Barak | last8=Zeiri | first8=Yehuda | title=Decomposition of Condensed Phase Energetic Materials: Interplay between Uni- and Bimolecular Mechanisms | journal=Journal of the American Chemical Society | publisher=American Chemical Society (ACS) | volume=136 | issue=11 | date=6 March 2014 | issn=0002-7863 | doi=10.1021/ja410020f | pages=4192–4200| pmid=24495109 | bibcode=2014JAChS.136.4192F | url=https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20140428-125540687 }}</ref>  Because of the production of [[carbon]], TNT explosions have a sooty appearance.  Because TNT has an excess of carbon, explosive mixtures with oxygen-rich compounds can yield more energy per kilogram than TNT alone.  During the 20th century [[amatol]], a mixture of TNT with [[ammonium nitrate]], was a widely used military explosive.<ref>Brown, G. I. (1998). ''The Big Bang: A History of Explosives''. Sutton Publishing {{ISBN|0-7509-1878-0}}. pp. 158-163.</ref>

TNT can be detonated with a high velocity initiator or by efficient concussion.<ref>''[[Merck Index]]'', 13th Edition, '''9801'''</ref> For many years, TNT used to be the reference point for the [[Figure of Insensitivity]]. TNT had a rating of exactly 100 on the "F of I" scale. The reference has since been changed to a more sensitive explosive called [[RDX]], which has an F of I rating of 80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Figure of Insensitivity {{!}} 1 Publications {{!}} 12 Citations {{!}} Top Authors {{!}} Related Topics |url=https://scispace.com/topics/figure-of-insensitivity-2tdtuknh |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=SciSpace - Topic |language=en |archive-date=2023-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721190324/https://scispace.com/topics/figure-of-insensitivity-2tdtuknh |url-status=dead }}</ref>