2904.20.20.00 - Trinitrotoluene

This category specifically classifies Trinitrotoluene (TNT), a well-known explosive compound. TNT is characterized by the presence of three nitro groups attached to a toluene molecule. Its primary use is as an explosive agent, and it is distinct from other nitrated hydrocarbons within this chapter due to its specific chemical structure and highly energetic properties.

While other sibling categories at this level also cover nitrated hydrocarbons, they encompass different specific compounds or broader groups of compounds. For instance, p-Nitrotoluene and p-Nitro-o-xylene represent simpler nitrated toluenes, whereas 5-tert-Butyl-2,4,6-trinitro-m-xylene (Musk xylol) and other artificial musks are primarily used in perfumery. The "Nitrated benzene, nitrated toluene (except p-nitrotoluene), or nitrated naphthalene" category is a more general grouping for other nitrated aromatics, making Trinitrotoluene a distinct, specifically identified item.

As a leaf node, HTS code 2904.20.20.00 does not have further subdivisions. Therefore, the classification of Trinitrotoluene is definitive at this level, requiring only the identification of the substance itself. The presence of the three nitro groups on the toluene ring is the key defining characteristic for its placement here, distinguishing it from less nitrated or differently substituted aromatic compounds.