The preparation and use of Explosives (2014 Chemistry Project)
Destructive?
Or a necessary evil for production?
-Karan Maitra XI-B (Gems Modern Academy)
Karan Maitra XI – B GMA
Energy levels of explosives
Low energy levels : Most home use explosives have low energy levels. Even things like flares are classified under this term. They do not ‘explode’ per say, rather they deflagrate. The energy level of an explosion is classified by the ability of the substance to transfer heat from layer to layer all the way to the outermost part. Low energy explosives take longer to do so therefore they do not produce very harmful explosions. Their reaction speed is relatively slower. High energy levels : High energy level explosives are used while mining and in military grade explosives. Even some bigger fireworks that are not available to the public come under this classification. These substances have a quicker reaction rate. They are generally initiated using blasting caps but can also be initiated with low energy level blasts of deflagration or detonation. Sometimes, a blasting cap can explode and send out supersonic shockwaves. If this happens, even a low energy level explosive can be harmful as the exchange of energy is no longer dependant on the transfer of heat but is rather dependant on the transfer of the shockwave through the substance.
Types of explosives (Outlined in this project)
Nitrogen based explosives (Mercury fulminate and TNT) Plastic explosives (C4 and SEMTEX)
Karan Maitra XI – B GMA
Nitrogen based explosives
Mercury(II)Fulminate – Hg(CNO)2
Preparation
It is prepared by adding mercury to nitric acid and dissolving the solution in ethanol. It is a fulminate compound and contains the fulminate ion
–
C=N+-O- .
It is prepared by first nitrating mercury by dissolving in nitric acid.
Hg + 3 OHNO2 → HgNO3 + OHNO2 + NO2
The Mercury nitrate is then dissolved in a 95% pure solution of ethanol to form the fulminate
HgNO3 +...