ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Hexanitrostilbene

Hexanitrostilbene is a big word that describes a type of chemical. It's made up of small parts called atoms, which are kind of like building blocks. When scientists put six nitro groups (which are molecules made up of nitrogen and oxygen atoms) onto a molecule of stilbene (which has carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms), they get hexanitrostilbene!

So, what does this chemical do? Well, it's very explosive, which means it can go boom if it's not handled carefully. That's why it's used in things like bombs or missiles, where it can be ignited to create a powerful explosion.

But even though it's dangerous, scientists study hexanitrostilbene to try to understand more about how it works and how it can be used safely. They use fancy equipment to look at it and figure out what happens at a really tiny level, with molecules moving around and electrons zipping back and forth. It's kind of like looking at a really complicated game of tag!

Overall, hexanitrostilbene is a powerful chemical that can be used for good or bad purposes. But by studying it carefully, scientists can learn more about how the world around us works.
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