Nitrocellulose
Highly flammable compound used in explosives, photography, and lacquers.
Aleksander Sobolewski · CC BY-SA 4.0
Nitrocellulose, also known as cellulose nitrate, flash paper, guncotton, and collodion, is a highly flammable compound formed by nitrating cellulose with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Its discovery in the mid-19th century led to revolutionary applications in explosives, photography, lacquers, and adhesives, making it a foundational material in both industrial and consumer products.
- field
- Chemistry, Explosives, Photography, Coatings
- known_for
- Guncotton propellant, collodion photographic emulsion, nitrocellulose lacquers, flash paper
- first_major_use
- Replacement for gunpowder as propellant in firearms and as low-order explosive in mining
- key_derivatives
- Collodion, celluloid, flash paper, guncotton
Lore & Background
Independently, Rudolf Christian Böttger and F. J. Otto also discovered the process that year.
Reader's Guide
Nitrocellulose's significance spans multiple fields. As guncotton, it replaced gunpowder in firearms and mining explosives, and later became the basis for smokeless powder. In the 20th century, nitrocellulose was adapted for automobile lacquers, adhesives, and nail polish. Its explosive properties were used in spaceflight by Copenhagen Suborbitals for jettisoning rocket components, though it proved ineffective in near vacuum. Laboratory uses include membrane filters for particle retention and protein immobilization in western blots. Magicians use flash paper made of pure nitrocellulose, which burns instantly without ash.
Did You Know?
- Nitrocellulose is a nitrate ester, not a nitro compound, and its glucose repeat unit has three OH groups that can form mono-, di-, or trinitrate esters.
- The chemical equation for trinitrate formation is 3 HNO3 + C6H7(OH)3O2 → C6H7(ONO2)3O2 + 3 H2O, with yields about 85%.
- Nitrocellulose is used in nail polish because it is inexpensive, dries quickly to a hard film, and does not damage skin.
- Adolph Noé developed a method of peeling coal balls using nitrocellulose.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nitrocellulose?
Nitrocellulose (also called cellulose nitrate, guncotton, flash paper, or collodion) is a highly flammable compound produced by nitrating cellulose with a blend of nitric and sulfuric acids. It entered the story in the mid-19th century and immediately became a cornerstone of industrial chemistry.
What are Nitrocellulose's powers/role?
In the canon, Nitrocellulose acts as a firearm propellant replacing black powder, a low-order explosive for mining, the emulsion base for wet-plate photography (collodion), and the backbone of lacquers and adhesives. Its key derivatives include celluloid, flash paper, and guncotton.
How does Nitrocellulose's story end?
Nitrocellulose never truly exits the narrative—it still lives on inside everyday coatings, lacquers, and adhesives found in consumer products today. Its explosive and photographic roles have been largely handed off to safer modern successors, but the compound's chemical legacy persists.
Why is Nitrocellulose important?
Its mid-19th-century discovery simultaneously transformed firearms, mining, photography, and the birth of synthetic plastics like celluloid. It is widely regarded as a foundational material that bridged pure chemistry, heavy industry, and everyday consumer goods.
What are Nitrocellulose's aliases?
Fans and chemists alike recognize this character under several names: cellulose nitrate, guncotton, flash paper, and collodion. Each alias reflects a different preparation or application of the same nitrated-cellulose compound.
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