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!