Editing Explosive (section)

===By sensitivity===

====Primary====
A '''primary explosive''' is an explosive that is extremely sensitive to stimuli such as [[impact (mechanics)|impact]], [[friction]], [[heat]], [[electrostatic|static electricity]], or [[electromagnetic radiation]]. Some primary explosives are also known as [[contact explosive]]s. A relatively small amount of energy is required for [[initiation (chemistry)|initiation]]. As a very general rule, primary explosives are considered to be those compounds that are more sensitive than [[Pentaerythritol tetranitrate|PETN]]. As a practical measure, primary explosives are sufficiently sensitive that they can be reliably initiated with a blow from a hammer; however, PETN can also usually be initiated in this manner, so this is only a very broad guideline. Additionally, several compounds, such as [[nitrogen triiodide]], are so sensitive that they cannot even be handled without detonating. Nitrogen triiodide is so sensitive that it can be reliably detonated by exposure to [[Alpha particle|alpha radiation]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Nitrogen triiodide |date=2024-06-08 |work=Wikipedia |url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen_triiodide |access-date=2024-09-02 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=UCL |date=2020-06-23 |title=Nitrogen Triiodide (NI3) |url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/safety-services/policies/2021/jun/nitrogen-triiodide-ni3 |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=Safety Services |language=en}}</ref>  

Primary explosives are often used in [[detonator]]s or to [[trigger (firearms)|trigger]] larger charges of less sensitive [[secondary explosives]]. Primary explosives are commonly used in [[blasting cap]]s and [[percussion cap]]s to translate a physical shock signal. In other situations, different signals such as electrical or physical shock, or, in the case of laser detonation systems, light, are used to initiate an action, i.e., an explosion. A small quantity, usually milligrams, is sufficient to initiate a larger charge of explosive that is usually safer to handle.

Examples of primary high explosives are:
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* [[Acetone peroxide]]
* Alkali metal [[ozonide]]s
* [[Ammonium permanganate]]
* [[Ammonium chlorate]]
* [[Azidotetrazolates]]
* Azoclathrates
* [[Benzoyl peroxide]]
* [[Benzvalene]]
* 3,5-Bis(trinitromethyl)tetrazole<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/can-t-stop-nitro-groups|title=Can't Stop the Nitro Groups |work=Science.org |last=Lowe |first=Derek |date=15 August 2019 |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>
* [[Chlorine oxide]]s
* [[Copper(I) acetylide]]
* [[Copper(II) azide]]
* [[Cumene hydroperoxide]]
* Cycloprop(-2-)enyl nitrate (CXP or CPN)
* [[Cyanogen azide]]
* [[Cyanuric triazide]]
* [[Diacetyl peroxide]]
* [[1-Diazidocarbamoyl-5-azidotetrazole]]
* [[Diazodinitrophenol]]
* [[Diazomethane]]
* [[Diethyl ether peroxide]]
* [[4-Dimethylaminophenylpentazole]]
* [[Disulfur dinitride]]
* [[Ethyl azide]]
* [[Explosive antimony]]
* [[Fluorine perchlorate]]
* [[Fulminic acid]]
* Halogen azides:
** [[Fluorine azide]]
** [[Chlorine azide]]
** [[Bromine azide]]
** [[Iodine azide]]
* [[Hexamethylene triperoxide diamine]]
* [[Hydrazoic acid]]
* [[Hypofluorous acid]]
* [[Lead azide]]
* [[Lead styphnate]]
* [[Lead picrate]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.powerlabs.org/chemlabs/lead_picrate.htm|title=PowerLabs Lead Picrate Synthesis|first=Sam |last=Barros |website=powerlabs.org|url-status=live|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160522174456/http://www.powerlabs.org/chemlabs/lead_picrate.htm|archive-date=22 May 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Manganese heptoxide]]
* [[Mercury(II) fulminate]]
* [[Mercury nitride]]
* [[Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide]]
* [[Nickel hydrazine nitrate]]<ref>{{cite book |first1=Robert |last1=Matyáš |first2=Jiří |last2=Pachman |title=Primary Explosives |publisher=Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg |date=2013 |page=331}}</ref>
* Nickel hydrazine perchlorate
* Nitrogen trihalides:
** [[Nitrogen trichloride]]
** [[Nitrogen tribromide]]
** [[Nitrogen triiodide]]
* [[Nitroglycerin]]
* [[Nitronium perchlorate]]
* [[Nitrosyl perchlorate]]
* Nitrotetrazolate-''N''-oxides
* [[Pentazenium]] [[hexafluoroarsenate]]
* [[Peroxy acid]]s
* [[Peroxymonosulfuric acid]]
* [[Selenium tetraazide]]
* [[Silicon tetraazide]]
* [[Silver azide]]
* [[Silver acetylide]]
* [[Silver fulminate]]
* [[Silver nitride]]
* [[Tellurium tetraazide]]
* [[tert-Butyl hydroperoxide|''tert''-Butyl hydroperoxide]]
* Tetraamine copper complexes
* [[Tetraazidomethane]]
* [[Tetrazene explosive]]
* [[Tetrazole]]s
* [[Titanium tetraazide]]
* Triazidomethane
* Oxides of xenon:
** [[Xenon dioxide]]
** [[Xenon oxytetrafluoride]]
** [[Xenon tetroxide]]
** [[Xenon trioxide]]
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====Secondary====
A '''secondary explosive''' is less sensitive than a primary explosive and requires substantially more energy to be initiated. Because they are less sensitive, they are usable in a wider variety of applications and are safer to handle and store. Secondary explosives are used in larger quantities in an explosive train and are usually initiated by a smaller quantity of a primary explosive.

Examples of secondary explosives include [[TNT]] and [[RDX]].

====Tertiary====
'''Tertiary explosives''', also called '''blasting agents''', are so insensitive to shock that they cannot be reliably detonated by practical quantities of [[primary explosive]], and instead require an intermediate [[explosive booster]] of [[secondary explosive]]. These are often used for safety and the typically lower costs of material and handling. The largest consumers are large-scale [[mining]] and [[construction]] operations.

Most tertiaries include a fuel and an oxidizer. [[ANFO]] can be a tertiary explosive if its reaction rate is slow.