 pentaerythritol tetranitrate (petn), also known as pent, penta, ten, corpent, penthrite (orârarely and primarily in germanâas nitropenta), is the nitrate ester of pentaerythritol, and is structurally very similar to nitroglycerin. penta refers to the five carbon atoms of the neopentane skeleton. petn is best known as an explosive. it is one of the most powerful high explosives known, with a relative effectiveness factor of 1.66. petn mixed with a plasticizer forms a plastic explosive.{{cite encyclopedia | title = explosives | encyclopedia = a dictionary of military history and the art of war | author = john childs | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=neq7fuadmc8c&p
Alkyl_nitrates Antianginals Explosive_chemicals