File:RDX.svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
cyclonite
Sign in to saveAlso known as hexogen, T4, cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine, cyclotrimethylene-trinitramine, cyclotrimethylene trinitramine, Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-s-triazine, Trimethylenetrinitramine, 1,3,5-Trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane
RDX (Research Department Explosive or Royal Demolition Explosive), or hexogen, also known by other names, is an organic compound with the formula (CH2N2O2)3. It is white, odorless, tasteless, and widely used as an explosive. Chemically, it is classified as a nitroamine alongside HMX, which is a more energetic explosive than trinitrotoluene (TNT). It was used widely in World War II and remains common in military applications. It is lower performing and more toxic than modern replacements like TKX-50.
Chemical data
- Formula
- C3H6N6O6
- Molecular weight
- 222.12 g/mol
- IUPAC name
- 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane
- SMILES
- C1N(CN(CN1[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-]
- InChIKey
- XTFIVUDBNACUBN-UHFFFAOYSA-N
- XLogP
- 1.6
- Polar surface area
- 147 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 0
- H-bond acceptors
- 9
- Formal charge
- 0
via PubChem
Research
594 papersvia PubMed
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 222.035
Show 9 more facts
- Commons category
- RDX
- canonical SMILES
- C1N(CN(CN1[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-])[N+](=O)[O-]
- chemical formula
- C₃H₆N₆O₆
- NIOSH Pocket Guide ID
- 0169
- density
- 1.82
- melting point
- 401
- vapor pressure
- 0.0004
- time-weighted average exposure limit
- 1.5
- boiling point
- 234
via Wikidata · CC0
~23 min read
Article
22 sectionsContents
- Name
- Usage
- Synthesis
- History
- Germany
- UK
- Canada
- UK, US and Canadian production and development
- Woolwich method
- Bachmann process
- Military compositions
- Terrorism
- Stability
- Toxicity
- Civilian use
- Biodegradation
- Alternatives
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- Further reading
- External links
RDX (Research Department Explosive or Royal Demolition Explosive), or hexogen, also known by other names, is an organic compound with the formula (CH2N2O2)3. It is white, odorless, tasteless, and widely used as an explosive. Chemically, it is classified as a nitroamine alongside HMX, which is a more energetic explosive than trinitrotoluene (TNT). It was used widely in World War II and remains common in military applications. It is lower performing and more toxic than modern replacements like TKX-50.
RDX is often used in mixtures with other explosives and plasticizers or phlegmatizers (desensitizers); it is the explosive agent in C-4 plastic explosive and a key ingredient in Semtex. It is stable in storage and is considered one of the most energetic and brisant of the military high explosives, with a relative effectiveness factor of 1.60.