Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT considered a high explosive?

1. Dynamite

2. Picric Acid

3. Nitrocellulose

4. ANFO

The correct answer is: Nitrocellulose

Nitrocellulose is primarily classified as a propellant rather than a high explosive. While it does possess explosive properties, it typically does not meet the criteria for high explosives, which are materials that detonate and produce a shock wave. High explosives such as dynamite and picric acid are capable of producing a rapid chemical reaction that generates a large volume of gas and heat, resulting in an explosive effect. ANFO (a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil) is also characterized as a high explosive, commonly used in commercial blasting operations due to its stability and effectiveness. In contrast, nitrocellulose is generally utilized as a smokeless powder in firearms and ammunition, operating through a deflagration rather than a detonation process, which makes it fundamentally different from high explosives.