The Navy proposed to continue using ammonium picrate. Anhydrous potassium picrate forms orthorhombic crystals. Many picrates are explosives, for example ammonium picrate (known as Dunnite). Potassium picrate, or potassium 2,4,6-trinitrophenolate, is an organic chemical, a picrate of potassium. The picrate ion is intensely yellow. The picrate forms small yellow needles, mp. The picrate forms shining prisms (m.p. Potassium picrate is not a very powerful explosive. The ether methyl picrate (CAS# 606-35-9) has the formula (ON)CHOCH. Ammonium picrate is a salt formed by reacting picric acid and ammonia.