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478 CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY OF EXPLOSIVES

TABLE 108

CHARACTERISTICS OF 2,4-DINITROPHENATES

Salt

Number of molecules

of water of

crystallization

NH 4

Na

Mg

K

Ca

Mn

Ni

Cu

Zn

1

1

12, 9, 1

1,½

5

8

• 
  


• 
  

  Sr 3
  Ba 6,5, 4
  Hg -
  Pb 6

  
  

• At 38 mm Hg.
  ** At 10 mm Hg.

Dehydration

temperature

°C

50*

180

180

160

180

50*

(monohydrate)

100*

• 50*
  150
  160-180
  50
  15**

Initiation Inflammability

temperature

°C

from flame

• 380


• 
  

  400

  
  


• 
  

  340

  
  

readily inflammable

• 340
  355


• 
  


• 
  

  355 highly inflammable
  345

  
  

In 1930 Desvergnes [25] gave the following values for the solubility of the barium

salt in water and alcohol:

in 100 ml of water at 25°C 1.5 g

75°C 7.2 ,,

in 100 ml of alcohol it 22°C 0.3 ,,

,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, 78°C 3.5 ,,

Apart from this barium dinitrophenate dissolves easily in acetone, whereas

it is insoluble in chloroform and ether.

TOXICITY OF DINITROPHENOLS

Dinitrophenols are highly toxic. According to Mayer [30], 2,4-dinitrophenol

is toxic not only when ingested but also when its dust is inhaled or absorbed through

the skin. Fatal cases are known which were caused by inhalation of dust in a con-

centration of 0.004 mg/l. A dose of 0.01 g/kg of body weight is considered toxic.
Other authors report 0.2 g/kg as the fatal dose, pointing out that dinitrophenol

vapours in a concentration corresponding to volatility at room temperature are

not poisonous.

Dinitrophenol enhances metabolism and has been applied as an agent For the

treatment of obesity. Chronic dinitrophenol poisoning may cause liver and kidney
damage. According to Lazarev [31], poisoning by dinitrophenol is characterized

by the following symptoms: general weakness, lack of appetite, rush of blood to