The Collaborative International Dictionary
Nitrophnol \Ni`tro*ph"nol\, n. [Nitro- + phenol.] (Chem.) Any one of a series of nitro derivatives of phenol. They are yellow oily or crystalline substances and have well-defined acid properties, as picric acid.
Wiktionary
n. (context chemistry English) 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, C6H2(NO2)3, prepared by the nitration of phenol or of aspirin; a toxic, yellow, explosive substance used in dyes, explosives, and as an antiseptic
WordNet
n. a yellow toxic highly explosive strong acid; used in high explosives and as a dye and in chemical reactions
Wikipedia
Picric acid is the chemical compound formally called 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP). This yellow crystalline solid is one of the most acidic phenols and is vinylogous to nitric acid. Like other highly nitrated compounds such as TNT, picric acid is an explosive. Its name comes from the Greek πικρός (pikros), meaning "bitter", reflecting its bitter taste.
Its primary use, now outdated, is as an explosive. It has also been used in medicine (antiseptic, burn treatments), dyes, and as a chemistry agent.
Usage examples of "picric acid".
Pett about the difference between picric acid and trinitrotoluene, than which a pleasanter topic for the luncheon table could hardly be selected, and the voice of Clarence Renshaw rose above all other competing noises, as he spoke of the functions of the trochaic spondee.
But most of them are built around one or more of half a dozen or so basic compounds - ammonium nitrate, picric acid, nitroglycerin, PETN, RDX, TNT.
Jars of picric acid, nitric acid, carboys of other chemicals, packages labelled gunpowder, gun cotton and nitroglycerine, as well as carefully stoppered bottles of prussic acid, and the cyanides, arsenic and other poisons made the place bear the look of a veritable devil's workshop.
Miss Teatime decided that they had surgical connotations: she noted iodine (for cuts), picric acid (burns), and gentian violet (athlete’.
But I understand that picric acid explodes if you drop a weight on it, and you will remember, dear vicar, that you met Mr.
It contained lead tubes inset with copper disks of varying thickness, a glass jar full of oily-looking sulfuric acid, and another jar that held a powdery, yellowish substance, presumably picric acid.
Half dreaming, he entered the maze of a cylinder alongside the picric acid and the gaine and the condensers until he reached the fuze deep within the main body.
We used to use the stuff it's made from, picric acid, in bombs and shells, but not in guns, because it was too fast and would split a gun wide open.
It could be anything: C3, C4, Cyclonite, TNT, picric acid, gelignite, dynamite, Tetryl, Amatol, any one of a dozen sensitive chemicals.
In summer or the beginning of autumn, you can find remnants of sunbaked newspapers in gardens, dry and fragile as dead leaves, so yellow you might think they had been washed with picric acid.