Picric Acid

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Picric acid, also known as Tri-Nitro-Phenol, or T.N.P., is a military explosive that is most often used as a booster charge to set off another less sensitive explosive, such as T.N.T. It another explosive that is fairly simple to make, assuming that one can acquire the concentrated sulfuric and nitric acids. Its procedure for manufacture is given in many college chemistry lab manuals, and is easy to follow. The main problem with picric acid is its tendency to form dangerously sensitive and unstable picrate salts, such as potassium picrate. For this reason, it is usually made into a safer form, such as ammonium picrate, also called explosive D. A social deviant would probably use a formula similar to the one presented here to make picric acid.

Recipe

 MATERIALS                         EQUIPMENT
 ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ                         ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ
 phenol (9.5 g)                    500 ml flask

 concentrated                      adjustable heat source
 sulfuric acid  (12.5 ml)
                                   1000 ml beaker
 concentrated nitric               or other container
 acid (38 ml)                      suitable for boiling in

 distilled water                   filter paper
                                   and funnel

                                   glass stirring rod

1. Place 9.5 grams of phenol into the 500 ml flask, and carefully add 12.5 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid and stir the mixture.
2. Put 400 ml of tap water into the 1000 ml beaker or boiling container and bring the water to a gentle boil.
3. After warming the 500 ml flask under hot tap water, place it in the boiling water, and continue to stir the mixture of phenol and acid for about thirty minutes. After thirty minutes, take the flask out, and allow it to cool for about five minutes.
4. Pour out the boiling water used above, and after allowing the container to cool, use it to create an ice bath, similar to the one used in section 3.13, steps 3-4. Place the 500 ml flask with the mixed acid an phenol in the ice bath. Add 38 ml of concentrated nitric acid in small amounts, stirring the mixture constantly. A vigorous but "harmless" reaction should occur. When the mixture stops reacting vigorously, take the flask out of the ice bath.
5. Warm the ice bath container, if it is glass, and then begin boiling more tap water. Place the flask containing the mixture in the boiling water, and heat it in the boiling water for 1.5 to 2 hours.
6. Add 100 ml of cold distilled water to the solution, and chill it in an ice bath until it is cold.
7. Filter out the yellowish-white picric acid crystals by pouring the solution through the filter paper in the funnel. Collect the liquid and dispose of it in a safe place, since it is corrosive.
8. Wash out the 500 ml flask with distilled water, and put the contents of the filter paper in the flask. Add 300 ml of water, and shake vigorously.
9. Re-filter the crystals, and allow them to dry.
10. Store the crystals in a safe place in a glass container, since they will react with metal containers to produce picrates that could explode spontaneously.

Making Picric Acid from Asprin

Picric Acid can be used as a booster explosive in detonators, a high explosive charge, or as an intermediate to preparing lead picrate.

Material Required

• Aspirin tablets (5 grains per tablet)
• Alcohol, 95% pure
• Sulfuric acid, concentrated, (if battery acid, boil until white fumes disappear)
• Potassium Nitrate (see elsewhere in this Cookbook)
• Water
• Paper towels
• Canning jar, 1 pint
• Rod (glass or wood)
• Glass containers
• Ceramic or glass dish
• Cup
• Teaspoon
• Tablespoon
• Pan
• Heat source
• Tape

Procedure

1. Crush 20 aspirin tablets in a glass container. Add 1 teaspoon of water and work into a paste.
2. Add approximately 1/3 to 1/2 cup of alcohol (100 millilitres) to the aspirin paste; stir while pouring.
3. Filter the alcohol-aspirin solution through a paper towel into another glass container. Discard the solid left in the paper towel.
4. Pour the filtered solution into a glass or ceramic dish.
5. Evaporate the alcohol and water from the solution by placing the dish into a pan of hot water. White powder will remain in the dish after evaporation.

• NOTE: The water in the pan should be at hot bath temperature, not boiling, approx. 160 to 180 degress farenheit. It should not burn the hands.

6. Pour 1/3 cup (80 millilitres) of concentrated sulfuric acid into a canning jar. Add the white powder to the sulfuric acid.
7. Heat canning jar of sulfuric acid in a pan of simmering hot water bath for 15 minutes; then remove jar from the bath. Solution will turn to a yellow-orange color.
8. Add 3 level teaspoons (15 grams) of potassium nitrate in three portions to the yellow-orange solution; stir vigorously during additions. Solution will turn red, then back to a yellow-orange color.
9. Allow the solution to cool to ambient room temperature while stirring occasionally.
10. Slowly pour the solution, while stirring, into 1-1/4 cup (300 millilitres) of cold water and allow to cool.
11. Filter the solution through a paper towel into a glass container. Light yellow particles will collect on the paper towel.
12. Wash the light yellow particles with 2 tablespoons (25 millilitres) of water. Discard the waste liquid in the container.
13. Place articles in ceramic dish and set in a hot water bath, as in step 5, for 2 hours.