[p3t3r1]

Hi guys, I am wondering if anyone can give me a hand on a little problem I have here. I am suppose to do a research on Trinitrotoluene (TNT). One of the sections of the research ask me for the physical properties of the compound and ask me to explain it using inter and intramolecular forces. I looked up all over the net but I just couldn't find any solution to this question. I know TNT is a polar-non-covalent-bond ( well I assumed) but it is solid in natural state which means that the molescules of TNT are polar molecules using dipole and dipole attraction or they have ionic intermolecular forces. It has a boiliing point of 80 C, which is lower than boiling point of water, which has a hydrogen bond. Yet it is solid in its natural state while water is is liquid. This just doesn't quite make sense...I could draw a lewis structure diagram but the formula for TNT is quite big and I am not really sure how to do it.. I would really apreciate if someone could explain the inter and intramoleculars of TNT for me. Thanks alot.

[Borek]

30 sec searching for MSDS on Google:

Appearance: yellow crystals
Melting point: 80 C
Boiling point: 240 C (decomposes explosively)
Vapour density:
Vapour pressure:
Density (g cm-3): 1.65
Flash point:
Explosion limits:
Autoignition temperature:
Water solubility: insoluble

[movies]

There is more to crystalinity than just polar interactions.  Surely polar compounds are more likely to be crystaline at normal conditions, but that's not always the case.