RDX
Explosive chemical compound / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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RDX (abbreviation of "Research Department eXplosive" or Royal Demolition eXplosive) or hexogen,[4] among other names, is an organic compound with the formula (CH2N2O2)3. It is white, odorless and tasteless, widely used as an explosive.[5] Chemically, it is classified as a nitroamine alongside HMX, which is a more energetic explosive than TNT. It was used widely in World War II and remains common in military applications.
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RDX crystal | |||
Names | |||
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Preferred IUPAC name
1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane | |||
Other names
1,3,5-Trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine RDX cyclonite, hexogen 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane 1,3,5-Trinitrohexahydro-s-triazine Cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine Trimethylenetrinitramine hexolite[1] | |||
Identifiers | |||
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3D model (JSmol) |
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ChEBI | |||
ChemSpider |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.004.092 | ||
PubChem CID |
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UNII | |||
UN number | 0072, 0391, 0483 | ||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |||
C3H6N6O6 | |||
Molar mass | 222.117 g·mol−1 | ||
Appearance | Colorless or yellowish crystals | ||
Density | 1.806 g/cm3[2] | ||
Melting point | 205.5 °C (401.9 °F; 478.6 K) | ||
Boiling point | 234 °C (453 °F; 507 K) | ||
insoluble [3] | |||
Explosive data | |||
Shock sensitivity | Low | ||
Friction sensitivity | Low | ||
Detonation velocity | 8750 m/s | ||
RE factor | 1.60 | ||
Hazards | |||
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |||
Main hazards |
Explosive, detonates on contact with mercury fulminate,[3] highly toxic | ||
GHS labelling: | |||
Danger | |||
H201, H301, H370, H373 | |||
P210, P250, P280, P370, P372, P373, P501 | |||
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
Flash point | Explosive [3] | ||
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |||
LD50 (median dose) |
100 mg/kg | ||
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |||
PEL (Permissible) |
none [3] | ||
REL (Recommended) |
TWA 1.5 mg/m3 ST 3 mg/m3 [skin][3] | ||
IDLH (Immediate danger) |
N.D.[3] | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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RDX is often used in mixtures with other explosives and plasticizers or phlegmatizers (desensitizers); it is the explosive agent in C-4 plastic explosive and a key ingredient in Semtex. It is stable in storage and is considered one of the most energetic and brisant of the military high explosives,[2] with a relative effectiveness factor of 1.60.