What is the active ingredient commonly found in dynamite?

The active ingredient commonly found in dynamite is nitroglycerin. This substance is a highly explosive compound that serves as the primary explosive in traditional dynamite formulations. Nitroglycerin is known for its ability to detonate rather than deflagrate, meaning it produces a shock wave that can effectively break rock and other materials, making it particularly useful in construction and demolition.

Dynamite was historically created by absorbing nitroglycerin into an inert absorbent material such as diatomaceous earth, which makes the handling of the explosive safer. While options like ammonium nitrate and ANFO are also used in explosives, they are not the main component of traditional dynamite. Black powder, on the other hand, is a much older type of explosive that does not contain nitroglycerin, further distinguishing the composition of dynamite. Understanding the role of nitroglycerin in dynamite highlights its significance in the field of explosives and construction practices.