Because Glyceryl trinitrate is one of the substances for manufacture of dynamite, it is very unstable. Glyceryl trinitrate is inflammable, and burns harmlessly but explodes if detonated, breaking down completely to nitrogen, carbon dioxide, oxygen and water vapour.

4C3H5(ONO2)3 ---> 6N2 + 12CO2 + O2 + 10H2O

 

Glyceryl trinitrate tablets are unstable unless they are stored under air tight conditions and protected from light. They are subject to considerable loss of potency when in contact with packaging components such as adhesive labels, cotton and rayon fillers and plastic bottles and caps. Glyceryl Trinitrate tablets should be dispensed only in glass containers sealed with a foil lined cap and containing no cotton wool wadding.

No more than 100 tablets should be supplied and that the container should be labeled with an indication that any tablets should be discarded after eight weeks in use.