There is huge damage for relatively small amounts of explosive substance, for instance a van full of explosives can flatten an area ten times the size or more. Is this a chemical process or how does this happen?
2007-03-23 01:16:30 · 10 answers · asked by Elle Dee 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
explosives work chemically by creating a violent reaction which rapidly increases the volume taken by the material (usually seen as a massive shckwave of energy and release of large volumes of gases). the explosive force is seen when that shockwave is either constrained inside a container or hits a solid object.
an explosive that isnt contained or constrained is realtively ineffectual. yes its harmfull if you are in the direct line of the shockwave, but bodies are amazingly adapatable.
A bullet is propelled by an explosive which is placed behind the bullet, constrained by the bullet case and muzzle of the gun. when the propellant/explosive in the bullet is fired the projectile (bullet) can only go one way.. out of the opne end of the tube/muzzle.
Artillery shells & bombs contain explosive but often wrap the explosive inside a shell of relatively fragile metal which when the explosive goes off voers the area in a high speed ejection of metal fragments which do most of the damage you see. if you look at the current trial in London of the 21st July bombers (oops sorry alledged! bombers) they wrapped nails around their bombs to do more damage.
Armour piercing shells & bombs work by constraining the energy form the explosion and projecting that into the cavities behind the armour.
2007-03-23 01:34:06 · answer #1 · answered by Mark J 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you combust something you generally oxidise it in air to release energy and produce som gas. So you have a fuel and an oxidsing agent, in this case oxygen fom the air.
Most explosive substances are molecule which contain both the fuel and the oxidising in the same molecule.
This means that even a little bit of energy, eg a fuse, the explosive will start to oxidise itself and decompose to realse gas.
This self oxidation/decombustion is what makes the explosices react so fast.
A lot of the damage from an explosive comes from the pressure release.
Us chemist tend to work in a unit called moles, which is effectively just a number. Now for example a mole of ethanol (alcohol) weighs 46 grams and will take up about 46 ml of space. Now ethanol burns in oxygen to give two moles of CO2 gas and 3 moles of h20 gas.
This is the damaging part, one mole of any gas at room temperature and pressure will occupy 24 litres of space. This ,means that the alcohol which did occupy about 46 ml which is 0.046 lites of space realses gases which occupy 120 litres of space.
For alcohol this isn't a problem as it also take away three moles of oxygen from the air and burns slowly so in total it just slowl gives out one extra mole of gas.
However now consider an explosive, it already contains it's oxidising agent so doen't take any gas from the air to react it just makes it and as stated about it decomposes rapidly
This means using a small amount of explosive will produce a vast amount of gas which expands quickly ripping through anything in its way.
2007-03-23 09:13:41 · answer #2 · answered by CJ 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Main damage is caused by pressure and shock waves. When a so-called high explosive goes off it can generate almost a million atmospheres of pressure i.e. a million times the pressure that you feel right now.
The shock waves are so powerful that few things can stand in its way.
2007-03-23 08:23:55 · answer #3 · answered by Taharqa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its called an exothermic reaction. The substance needs oxygen and heat to react, and quite often the reaction is very violent, try putting some Lithium/Potasium in a tank of water and enjoy the results.
Thats what the bomb maker wants, little substance and maximum effect
2007-03-23 08:24:07 · answer #4 · answered by poli_b2001 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of the damage done by explosives is due to the high pressure shockwave caused by the initial combustion of the explosive.
2007-03-23 08:20:00 · answer #5 · answered by twistieman 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Most explosives contain nitro (NO2) groups. The exothermic decomposition reactions of these functional groups give explosives most of their capability for damage.
2007-03-23 08:44:49 · answer #6 · answered by leprechaun 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the contained forces bieng released. Shaped Charges are used to Demo Buildings. it directs the force to weaken the structure causing it to Fail.
2007-03-23 08:21:40 · answer #7 · answered by mdlbldrmatt135 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they create a shock wave when they explode, this does the damage.
2007-03-23 18:56:43 · answer #8 · answered by neutron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it reacts with fire or a charge like baking soda with vinegar
2007-03-23 08:20:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
by brusting
2007-03-23 08:24:45 · answer #10 · answered by inderpreet k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋