• Nitrocellulose is low in toxicity but highly flammable.Burn Baby Burn! image by Slapper from Fotolia.com
  
  Nitrocellulose is a natural, large molecule, or polymer, found in wood pulp. Chemically, it consists of repeating glucose units. Nitrocellulose was the historic foundation of fibers, film, plastics and gunpowder. When nitrocellulose is in the form of guncotton, it is similar to TNT because both compounds have nitro groups. A milder form is used in lacquers, paints and ink. Nitrocellulose is an interesting compound because the degree of nitration of the cellulose determines its properties.
  
  

Guncotton, AKA Nitrocellulose

• When cellulose such as cotton is treated with nitric acid in the presence of water and sulfuric acid as a catalyst, the hydroxyl groups become nitro groups. The more nitration that occurs, the more flammable the final product is. There is oxygen stored within the cotton ball, which also fuels the fire. Upon drying, only a small flame or heat is needed to ignite the guncotton. It also ignites quickly, so it is important to use a distant form of ignition, such as tongs or a butane lighter stick. Because of easy ignition it is important to store unexploded guncotton appropriately---the best way being to store it under water, where it will be safe from accidental ignition and will keep for future experiments.
  
  

Solubility

• Solubility is the ability of a component to dissolve in a solvent. More nitration of a nitrocellulose leads to an increased solubility, even in ethers and alcohols. Nitrocellulose is a threadlike shape, which it retains in solutions.
  
  

Industrial Nitrocellulose

• Nitrocellulose can be used as a resin for ink. It is easier to handle and store in this form. The product can be cube granules that flow freely when handled or powder, which tends to compact when handled. Solutions made with nitrocellulose have superior clarity, which can improve the quality of a final piece of art.
  
  

Nitrocellulose in Layers

• Another use of nitrocellulose is to layer and spread it on paper to create a sticky membrane for the Western Blot test. The stickiness stops and separates proteins, and the Western Blot test is carried out to analyze a tissue sample. Historically, nitrocellulose was also spread in thin layers on glass plates to create light-sensitive photographic emulsions, commonly known as film.
  
  

Nitrocellulose Lacquers

• Nitrocellulose dries rapidly. This is a beneficial characteristic when it is used as a lacquer. The most common application of nitrocellulose as a lacquer is to finish or stain guitars and other wood products.
  
  

Chemical Sampling Information

• Nitrocellulose is low in toxicity but highly flammable and thus an explosion hazard.