In 1867, Nobel’s discovery that nitroglycerin mixed with an absorbent substance was much safer to handle led to the invention of dynamite.Īsciano Sobrero was badly injured in a lab accident during one of his experiments with nitroglycerine. This early period of experimentation cost Nobel his factory, which blew up, and the deaths of a number of workmen as well as his brother, Emil. “The invention of the blasting cap inaugurated the modern use of high explosives,” the encyclopedia writes. A few years later, in 1865, he invented the blasting cap, which replaced the wooden detonator. When it was lit and exploded, the liquid nitroglycerin would also explode.
CRAZY CHINESE DYNOOMITE RAILROAD STORY FULL
The solution he devised was a small wooden detonator with a black powder charge that was placed in a metal container full of nitroglycerin.
"Nitroglycerin was a much more powerful explosive, but it was so unstable that it could not be handled with any degree of safety.” Nobel built a small nitroglycerin factory to supply his experiments and set to work. “At the time, the only dependable explosive for use in mines was black powder, a form of gunpowder,” the encyclopedia writes. In the early 1860s, having completed his education, he began experimenting with explosives. He had a long interest in the use of explosives, the encyclopedia writes, influenced by the family business selling explosive mines and other equipment. A few years later, though, Nobel thought nitroglycerin’s explosive tendencies could be tamed.Īccording to Encyclopedia Britannica, Nobel studied at Pelouze’s lab during a brief stint in Paris while he was studying chemistry. The oil this produced was incredibly explosive, writes Nobel biographer Kenne Fant, and Sobrero considered it too destructive and volatile to have any practical uses. It was during his time with Peleuze, in the mid-1840s, that he came up with a substance he initially called “pyroglycerine,” made by adding glycerol to a mix of nitric and sulfuric acids. Pelouze in Paris, according to the Nobel Prize website. Sobrero, like Nobel, was a chemist who studied with professor J.T. He just didn’t see any use for it-even though it became, in the hands of Alfred Nobel-yes, that Nobel-the active ingredient in dynamite. What is more, written history has marginalized the Chinese, as with all other minorities.Ascanio Sobrero, born on this day in 1812, invented nitroglycerin. “Workers, including the Irish, receive little attention. “Many books on the railroad focus on the Big Four and the barons of the UP,” he says. “They scared the pants off the company leaders,” he says.ĭespite Chinese workers' contributions to building America’s historic infrastructure project, Chang says their history is often forgotten. Working conditions improved following the strike. The strike ended without pay parity after Central Pacific cut off food, transportation and supplies to the Chinese living in camps, but, Chang says, the strike was not held in vain. They protested these and the long hours and they used their collective strength to challenge the company.” There is also evidence they faced physical abuse at times from some supervisors. “They also had the most difficult and dangerous work, including tunneling and the use of explosives. “Chinese received 30-50 percent lower wages than whites for the same job and they had to pay for their own food stuffs,” Chang says. Chinese camp and construction train in Nevada when building of the first transcontinental railroad was being speeded across the state by the Central Pacific.
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