Pletz grouped the explosophores into eight distinct categories.
;I. 
:These represent:
:* the nitro group, a nitrogen atom bound to two oxygen atoms as well as an organic molecule (e.g. TNT, RDX)
:* the nitrate ion, a nitrogen atom bound to three oxygen atoms, (e.g. nitroglycerin, ANFO)
:* the nitrite ion, a nitrogen atom bound to two oxygen atoms
:Most commercially used explosives include the nitrate ion or the nitro group.
;II. 
:The azo and azide groups respectively, connected to organic/inorganic compounds (e.g. silver azide , lead azide , ammonium azide )
;III. 
:The halogenated nitrogen group X:halogen (e.g. nitrogen triiodide  and nitrogen trichloride )
;IV.  
:The fulminate group (e.g. fulminic acid HONC and mercury fulminate )
;V.  
:The chlorate and perchlorate groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g. potassium chlorate , fluorine perchlorate )
;VI. 
:The peroxide and ozonide groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g. acetone peroxide, butanone peroxide)
;VII. 
:The acetylide group with its metal derivatives (e.g. silver acetylide , copper acetylide )
;VIII. A metal atom connected by an unstable bond to the carbon of certain organic radicals 
:This class contains for instance organic compounds of mercury, thallium, and lead.
;Other
:Other substances have been characterised as explosophores outside of the eight classes as defined by Pletz.