Ask a Teacher

Dynamite is an explosive used for blasting and demolition. As invented by chemist Alfred Nobel in 1866, dynamite is the unstable compound of nitroglycerin that is the mixed with an inert gas filler to make it safer to transport and handle. Originally the filler was diatomite or sawdust, but various compounds are used including nitrocellulose (generally anything that will soak up the liquid)

The term military dynamite refers to a different compound (RDX, TNT, cornstarch and motor oil). That is more stable than true dynamite.