[Gradenine]

I am doing a project on TNT, and would be very grateful if someone could help me out a bit. I need to find out why TNT (trinitrotoluene) is highly explosive, but why it is fairly stable until detonated. I realise that its explosiveness is due to the nitro compound NO2, but I don't understand why this would be explosive. I also do not understand why it is fairly stable until detonated. Here is the structural diagram:

If anyone could offer their opinions or give me a few tips it would be greatly appreciated, as this project is due monday!

[Borek]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinitrotoluene

[AWK]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosives

[Donaldson Tan]

the cyclohexane ring should be replaced with a conjugated cyclohexan-tri-ene

[edimerz]

Wiki only says:
It is however readily acted upon by alkalis to form unstable compounds that are very sensitive to heat and impact.

[AWK]

Did you read my link to wikipedia, especially about oxygen balance?