Picric acid converted it to acetylsalicylic acid, i.e., aspirin, to keep it from the Allies. See Great Phenol Plot. At the time, phenol was obtained from coal as a co-product of coke ovens and the manufacture of gas for gas lighting. Laclede Gas reports being asked to expand production of phenol (and toluene) to support the war effort. Both Monsanto and Dow Chemical undertook manufacture of synthetic phenol in 1915. Dow was the leading producer. Dow describes picric acid as “the main battlefield explosive used by the French. Large amounts [of phenol] also went to Japan, where it was made into picric
Pyrophosphoric acid it is difficult to recrystallise from the melt. In aqueous solution pyrophosphoric acid like all polyphosphoric acids hydrolyses and eventually an equilibrium is established between phosphoric acid pyrophosphoric acid and polyphosphoric acids. When highly diluted, an aqueous solution of pyrophosphoric acid contains only phosphoric acid. Pyrophosphoric acid is a medium strong inorganic acid. Anions, salts, and esters of pyrophosphoric acid are called pyrophosphates. While pyrophosporic acid is corrosive, it is not known to be otherwise toxic. The name pyrophosphoric acid was given by a "Mr. Clarke of Glasgow" in 1827 who is credited with its discovery following the heating to