Which one of the following explosives does not contain nitroglycerine as an essential constituent?

The correct answer is (d), Amatol.

Cordite is a smokeless propellant consisting of a mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerine. Blasting gelatine is a high explosive consisting of nitroglycerine and a gelatinous binder. Dynamite is a high explosive consisting of nitroglycerine absorbed in a porous material such as kieselguhr. Amatol is a high explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate and TNT.

Amatol does not contain nitroglycerine as an essential constituent. It is a mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT, which are both high explosives. However, nitroglycerine is not present in amatol.