trinitroglycerin

Nitroglycerin Ni`tro*glyc"er*in, Nitroglycerine Ni`tro*glyc"er*ine(n[imac]`tr[-o]*gl[i^]s"[~e]r*[i^]n), n. [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}.] [1913 Webster]

Note: 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. [1913 Webster]