USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Railroad engineers used this explosive compound mixed on site to move large sections of rock and earth, which was quicker than digging by hand. The unstable nature of nitroglycerin continued to be a problem during the course of Summit Tunnel construction, causing an untold number of laborer deaths.

Detailed explanation-2: -Nitroglycerin is an explosive compound formed by the combination of glycerol and nitric and sulfuric acids. It was first synthesized in 1864 by chemist Ascanio Sobrero, who destroyed his notes for fear of the damage his highly unstable discovery might cause.

Detailed explanation-3: -Nitroglycerin is an oily, colourless liquid, but also a high explosive that is so unstable that the slightest jolt, impact or friction can cause it to spontaneously detonate.

Detailed explanation-4: -Glycerol also finds use as a precursor to explosives: it is the starting material in the manufacture of nitroglycerin, the explosive liquid commonly found in dynamite and some propellants.