text: Pletz grouped the explosophores into eight distinct categories.
  ;I. 
  :These represent:
  :* the nitro group, a nitrogen atom bound to two oxygen atoms as well as an organic molecule (e.g. TNT, RDX)
  :* the nitrate ion, a nitrogen atom bound to three oxygen atoms, (e.g. nitroglycerin, ANFO)
  :* the nitrite ion, a nitrogen atom bound to two oxygen atoms
  :Most commercially used explosives include the nitrate ion or the nitro group.
  ;II. 
  :The azo and azide groups respectively, connected to organic/inorganic compounds (e.g. silver azide , lead azide , ammonium azide )
  ;III. 
  :The halogenated nitrogen group X:halogen (e.g. nitrogen triiodide  and nitrogen trichloride )
  ;IV.  
  :The fulminate group (e.g. fulminic acid HONC and mercury fulminate )
  ;V.  
  :The chlorate and perchlorate groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g. potassium chlorate , fluorine perchlorate )
  ;VI. 
  :The peroxide and ozonide groups respectively, connected to organics/inorganics (e.g. acetone peroxide, butanone peroxide)
  ;VII. 
  :The acetylide group with its metal derivatives (e.g. silver acetylide , copper acetylide )
  ;VIII. A metal atom connected by an unstable bond to the carbon of certain organic radicals 
  :This class contains for instance organic compounds of mercury, thallium, and lead.
  ;Other
  :Other substances have been characterised as explosophores outside of the eight classes as defined by Pletz.