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Nitro-glycerine

This is an oily, colorless liquid, with a specific gravity of 1.60.

It has no smell, but a taste which at first is sweet, but soon becomes pungent, like pepper; is soluble in ether and methylic alcohol, but not in water, but the presence of water diminishes the risk of explosion. It begins to evaporate at 365° Fahr. It has been found that pure nitro-glycerine, dropped upon a thor- 2148. To Make Matches Without oughly red hot iron, assumes a spheroidal state Sulphur. To obviate the use of sulphur for and flashes off into vapor in the same way as igniting the wood of the match, the ends of gunpowder; but if the iron is not red hot, the matches are first slightly charred by rubonly hot enough to cause the nitro-glycerine bing them against a red hot iron plate, and to boil suddenly, a frightful explosion takes then dipped into as much white wax, melted place. The explosion of a single drop in this in a suitable vessel, as will cover the bottom manner will cause serious damage. This dangerous compound requires most careful handling, a slight shock sometimes exploding it.