Organic nitrate explosives

Organic nitrate explosives are the most common modern explosives, all compounds or compositions in which the major source of energy comes from nitrate (NO2) groups in various organic molecules. The earliest, nitrostarch, nitroglycerin, and nitrocellulose were first made by treating common organic compounds with nitric acid as the nitrate source, as well as sulfuric acid to encourage reaction and dehydration.

The three major classes are: