Tetryl is a yellow, crystalline solid that was used in the manufacture of explosives during WWI and WWII. It is no longer manufactured in the United States, however, although stocks of the compound remain at military installations and are currently in the process of being destroyed. Unlike picric acid, tetryl is stable and will not corrode metal, making it easier to handle and dispose. Tetryl's toxicity is well-known. Left exposed to air, it can take on a fine dust-like form which is easily inhaled, causing respiratory problems. It can also leak into water supplies and cause problems upon ingestion. Those who routinely work with tetryl often develop yellow stains on the skin and hair. Other common symptoms of tetryl exposure include diarrhea, abdominal pain, allergic reactions, nausea, insomnia and coughing. Tetryl is also a suspected carcinogen, but due to disposal programs its carcinogenic effects have never been studied.
Lab name:
Common molecules
Sample provider:
Obtained courtesy of the Cambridge Structural Database
Reciprocal Net site software 0.9.1-50,
copyright (c) 2002-2009, The Trustees of Indiana University
Files and data presented via this software are property of their
respective owners.
Reciprocal Net is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation as part of
the National Science Digital Library project.
