Most organic explosives are explosive because they contain nitrogen. They are defined as nitro compounds.

What are explosives made of?

Chemical composition

A chemical explosive may consist of either a chemically pure compound, such as nitroglycerin, or a mixture of a fuel and an oxidizer, such as black powder or grain dust and air.

Does dynamite have nitrogen?

TNT, in contrast to nitroglycerin, is very difficult to detonate. In fact, it took almost 30 years after its discovery for a chemist to notice TNT's explosive properties! ... Many explosives contain the element nitrogen. Oftentimes, one of the products of an explosive chemical reaction is nitrogen gas -- N2.