Dynamite

Dynamite was invented by Swedish technologist Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) in 1866-1867. Nobel sought to develop an explosive solid substance that could be easily controlled. The explosive substance nitroglycerine had been discovered in 1849 by Italian organic chemist (a scientist specializing in the composition, structure, properties, and reactions of matter) Ascanio Sobriero (1812-188. However, nitroglycerine was so sensitive and difficult to control that it was useless. Nobel attempted to convert nitroglycerine into a manageable solid by absorbing it into a porous (air- and water-permeable) substance.

In 1866, Nobel combined nitroglycerine with an unusual mineral, kieselguhr, and created the solid explosive he had been seeking. He also invented a detonation cap, using mercury fulminate, with which he could set off the explosive.