Final answer:
Explosives, such as nitroglycerin, share the common property of instability, resulting in a rapid release of gases and heat upon detonation, with the nitro (NO2) group being a key factor in their explosive nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Besides being exothermic, many explosives, including nitroglycerin, have the common property of being highly unstable, which leads to a rapid release of energy. Nitroglycerin is particularly explosive because it decomposes to produce a large volume of gases and heat, as shown in the reaction 4C3H5(ONO₂)₃ → 12CO₂ +10H₂O+6N₂+O₂. This rapid expansion of gas volume contributes to the explosive power.
Explosives like TNT and RDX are valued for their stability and ability to release large amounts of energy and heat upon detonation. The unique attribute shared by these materials is the presence of the nitro (NO₂) group, which is associated with the explosive nature of these compounds.