Questions tagged [explosives]
Questions discussing explosive nature of chemicals. Also, consider using the safety tag.
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Is Tollen's test safe?
Tollen's test is an important test to distinguish between aldehydes and ketones.
$$\ce{2[Ag(NH_3)_2]^+ + RCHO + H_2O → 2Ag(s) + 4NH_3 + RCO_2H + 2H^+}$$
But is this reaction safe? Is there any threat ...
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What exactly is happening when sodium, potassium, or other alkali metal explodes in water?
There are lots of videos on YouTube showing sodium, potassium, etc. exploding when dropped into water (this, for example).
I understand that when an alkali metal is exposed to water, a violent ...
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What makes substances explosive
Can someone explain clearly to me why some things are explosive?
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Which chemical properties make a substance explosive?
I know that some chemical substances are used as explosives. Amongst the most famous nitroglycerin in dynamite and cyclonite in C-4. Which chemical properties (I suspect that physical properties have ...
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Mechanism of initiation in contact explosives?
It's well known that undiluted nitroglycerin will explode when subjected to a physical shock. What is happening as a result of the physical shock that sets off the explosive reaction? In particular, ...
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How explosive is hydrogen gas?
I want to electrolyze water to get oxygen and hydrogen. I want to mix them in a regular balloon and ignite it. How much hydrogen would you need in a 2:1 ratio with air for it to be dangerous? Is this ...
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Why are peroxides explosive?
Why do peroxides tend to explode with little provocation? In general, what are typical products of their explosion?
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Contact explosion of nitrogen triiodide
Nitrogen triiodide, on slightest physical contact, explodes to evolve dense purple fumes of iodine. Why does this phenomenon occur?
video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KlAf936E90
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How does ammonium nitrate explode on its own?
I thought ammonium nitrate was an oxidizer that needed to be mixed with fuel to form a high explosive (e.g., ANFO). But apparently there have been accidental explosions involving just the "...
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What did actually happen when Staudinger tried to synthesise diamond?
It is a famous reaction that used to be a teaching lab experiment, but is now banned in Germany, because it is too dangerous. To quote-translate quite liberally from the German www.seilnacht.com:
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What really happens atomically in an explosion?
Let's say a room is filled with butane, I then throw a cigarette into the room. What happens to the atoms/molecules of the butane when they are in contact with the heat from the cigarette?
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Why exactly does molten NaCl explode, when it is poured into water?
Why does molten $\ce{NaCl}$ explode, when it is poured into water?
$\ce{NaCl}$ has a high melting point, $1074\ \mathrm{K}$ ($801~\mathrm{^\circ C}$). $\ce{NaCl}$ has a molar mass of $58.44\ \mathrm{g/...
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Why do most explosives have symmetrical chemical structures?
I was just turning the pages of my chemistry dictionary, when I found the structure of TNT (Trinitrotoluene):
...there after I got interested in its symmetry as an explosive, and started looking for ...
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How is combustion speed regulated in solid propellants?
My question on Space.SE didn't yield anything I didn't know already: the secondary regulation mechanism – grain (cross-section shape) of the propellant, changing the area of open surface of the ...
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What chemical explosives detonate when exposed to alpha particles or nuclear fission products?
Wikipedia's article on nitrogen triiodide $\ce{NI3}$ claims that
Nitrogen triiodide is also notable for being the only known chemical explosive that detonates when exposed to alpha particles and ...
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