Tetrazene


tetrazene

[′te·trə‚zēn] (organic chemistry) H2NC(NH)3N2C(NH)3NO An explosive, colorless to yellowish solid practically insoluble in water and alcohol; used as an explosive initiator and in detonators.

Tetrazene

 

(or Tetracene), a yellow crystalline substance, poorly soluble in water and organic solvents, with a density of 1.685 g/cm3.

Tetrazene is an explosive initiator that is used in pin-type primers as a sensitizer for lead azide or lead trinitroresorcinate; the heat of explosion is 2,305 kilojoules per kg, or 550 kilocalories per kg, and the flash point is 140°C. Tetrazene is obtained by the interaction of aqueous solutions of nitrate or carbonate of amino-guanidine with sodium nitrite.

REFERENCE

Gorst, A. G. Porokha i vzryvchatye veshchestva, 3rd ed. Moscow, 1972.