nitro
- adjective
- /ˈnaɪtroʊ/
- Specialized
- Explosives often contain nitro groups that make them highly energetic.
Examples
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A nitro group was added to the molecule to change its chemical properties.
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The laboratory handled several nitro compounds with extreme caution due to their reactivity.
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The lab's focus on nitro chemistry is impressive!
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Many explosives contain nitro groups.
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The researchers experimented with several nitro compounds to better understand their chemical behavior.
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To improve the solvent capabilities, scientists introduced a nitro group to the chemical structure.
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The presence of a nitro group enhances the explosiveness of certain compounds used in industry.
Compounds
- Specialized
A fertilizer made from chalk and ammonium nitrate to add nitrogen to soil
Surface Forms
Etymology
Nitro comes from the old word nitre and the name nitrogen, both linked to 'saltpetre' and nitrogen substances. So a nitro compound is one that has a small part with nitrogen and oxygen (the -NO2 group), which explains why these chemicals are often very reactive or explosive.