Properties of Gun-Cotton.—­The absolute density of gun-cotton is 1.5.  When in lumps its apparent density is 0.1; if twisted into thread, 0.25; when subjected, in the form of pulp, to hydraulic pressure, 1.0 to 1.4.  Gun-cotton preserves the appearance of the cotton from which it is made.  It is, however, harsher to the touch; it is only slightly hygroscopic (dry gun-cotton absorbs 2 per cent. of moisture from the air).  It possesses the property of becoming electrified by friction.  It is soluble in acetic ether, amyl acetate, and acetone, insoluble in water, alcohol, ether, ether-alcohol, methyl-alcohol, &c.  It is very explosive, and is ignited by contact with an ignited body, or by shock, or when it is raised to a temperature of 172 deg.  C. It burns with a yellowish flame, almost without smoke, and leaves little or no residue.  The volume of the gases formed is large, and consists of carbonic acid, carbonic oxide, nitrogen, and water gas.  Compressed gun-cotton when ignited often explodes when previously heated to 100 deg.  C.

Gun-cotton kept at 80 deg. to 100 deg.  C. decomposes slowly, and sunlight causes it to undergo a slow decomposition.  It can, however, be preserved for years without undergoing any alteration.  It is very susceptible to explosions by influence.  For instance, a torpedo, even placed at a long distance, may explode a line of torpedoes charged with gun-cotton.  The velocity of the propagation of the explosion in metallic tubes filled with pulverised gun-cotton has been found to be from 5,000 to 6,000 mms. per second in tin tubes, and 4,000 in leaden tubes (Sebert).

Gun-cotton loosely exposed in the open air burns eight times as quickly as powder (Piobert).  A thin disc of gun-cotton may be fired into from a rifle without explosion; but if the thickness of the disc be increased, an explosion may occur.  The effect of gun-cotton in mines is very nearly the same as that of dynamite for equal weights.  It requires, however, a stronger detonator, and it gives rise to a larger quantity of carbonic oxide gas.  Gun-cotton should be neutral to litmus, and should stand the Government heat test—­temperature of 150 deg.  F. for fifteen minutes (see page 249).  In the French Navy gun-cotton is submitted to a heat test of 65 deg.  C. (= 149 deg.  F.) for eleven minutes.  It should contain as small a percentage of soluble nitro-cotton and of non-nitrated cotton as possible.

The products of perfectly detonated gun-cotton may be expressed by the following equation:—­

2C_{12}H_{14}O_{4}(NO_{3})_{6} = 18CO + 6CO_{2} + 14H_{2}O + 12N.

It does not therefore contain sufficient oxygen for the complete combustion of its carbon.  It is for this reason that when used for mining purposes a nitrate is generally added to supply this defect (as, for instance, in tonite).  It tends also to prevent the evolution of the poisonous gas, carbonic oxide.  The success of the various gelatine explosives is due to this fact, viz., that the nitro-glycerine has an excess of oxygen, and the nitro-cotton too little, and thus the two explosives help one another.