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:

• Aliphatic nitrate esters [r]: Explosive compounds produced by O-type nitration in which a nitro group is attached to an oxygen atom of the compound being nitrated. (U.S. Army) ^[e]
• Nitroaromatics [r]: Explosives with a core aromatic hydrocarbon structure to which nitro groups, commonly three per ring, are attached; those with more than one nitro group are nonbiodegradable ^[e]
• Nitramines [r]: A highly energetic subclass of the organic nitrate explosives; includes RDX, HDX and tetryl ^[e]