Acetone peroxide (TATP: Triacetone triperoxide) is an organic compound, it is considered a highly flammable substance that is manufactured thanks to the use of household products: hydrogen peroxide, sulfuric acid and acetone, other strong acids can also be used that serve as catalysts or accelerators of the reaction; acetone peroxide is readily available since its precursors are found in abundant quantities within the earth's crust. As its main characteristic is to be flammable It is used most frequently for the manufacture of detonators and many variations of explosives, it was used in numerous terrorist events since, due to its structure, it can be hidden under any environment such as a shoe.
The group of peroxides are chemical substances composed of a bond that joins two oxygen molecules which is in an oxidized state (-1), this is the reason that they are compounds with an oxidizing nature; this substance within strong oxidants such as: permanganate, act as reducing agents making an oxidation process to elemental oxygen. In simpler words, peroxides are acids with a higher oxygen load than any normal oxide.
Acetone peroxide or dihydroxyacetone, is a cyclic compound conjugated by a TCAP trimer (tricyclic acetone peroxide), this is obtained by mixing hydrogen peroxide with acetone and small portions of acids already mentioned; Other agents such as cyclic dimer and unbound monomer are produced but the primary or main product is Triacetone triperoxide (TATP).
Due to being flammable, it can be in contact with an unexploded flame at concentrations of less than 2 grams; when it is completely dry, acetone peroxide is more detonable compared to when it is slightly humidified with acetone or water, this compound oxidizes specifically when it is burning under flames. This is an extremely sensitive compound to small impacts and friction with another element, this occurs because it is a molecule with a lot of instability.
Like any other chemical element, dihydroxyacetone is capable of releasing energy after the starvation stage since the decay products or base products are more stable than when they are forming the molecule.
