Bombs and Explosive Materials

TNT is the short-hand name for trinitrotoluene, a very volatile and unstable chemical. TNT is historically used in explosives because it will under rapid and violent exothermic reactions when exposed to heat or to sudden motion. In other words, it explodes somewhat predictably (it's been better since stabilizing compounds have been added to it - the early days of dynamite were extremely hazardous) and does so with a great deal of force.

You can waterproof a wick by coating it with wax or a waterproof sealant. This will help the wick repel water and prevent it from getting damp or extinguished when wet. Be sure to evenly coat the wick and let it dry fully before use.

No, Francium is not used in bombs. Due to its high radioactivity and scarcity in nature, Francium is not a practical element to use in weapon applications.

Not sure of the wording of your question, but most explosions leave a LOT of trace evidence.

Gunpowder is commonly used as the explosive in guns, fireworks, and weapons. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate (saltpetre) that combusts rapidly when ignited, generating the explosive force required for these applications.

We'll consider "dirty" to mean producing radioactive fallout.

Since hydrogen bombs (fusion bomb) require the energy from an atomic bomb (fission bomb) they are a little dirty. Its mostly the atomic bomb that creates dangerous isotopes that contaminate the blast area, and regions down-wind.

Now an H-bomb is generally "cleaner" than a bomb purposefully-design to create a large amount of dangerous, radioactive fallout. There are various techniques where one can change the type and duration of fallout. These types of weapons are generally use fission (not fusion) to create this effect.

Yes, copper is commonly used in certain types of bombs as a component of the casing. When the bomb detonates, the copper casing can fragment into small, high-speed pieces that can cause additional damage and injuries.

Yes, you can make bath bombs without citric acid by using cream of tartar or lemon juice as a substitute. These alternatives can still create a fizzy effect in the bath bomb when mixed with baking soda. Just be mindful of the proportions to ensure the right balance and consistency.

Heat, flame, or a spark can ignite gunpowder, causing it to rapidly combust and release energy in the form of heat and gas. It is a highly sensitive and volatile substance that requires caution when handling or storing.

Polystyrene has many properties useful for this purpose.

It is solid, but contains a LOT of air, so it can hold components in placed without adding much weight.

Additionally, while holding components in place, it will also allow certain types of radiation to pass through it. This can be important in certain applications that channels radiation for other purposes.

By "bombs," I assume you mean explosive compounds. A complete bomb would include the metal of the casing, the batteries of the detonator, the paint on the outside, etc.

Essentially, an explosive is a compound that oxidizes very rapidly. Oxidation is the same process responsible for rust and fire and the redness of our blood. One chemical all bombs must have, or get, is oxygen. In fact, the science of explosive design is principally mixing chemicals in such a way that the oxygen in the reaction will be put to use. Other chemicals commonly found are nitrogen, hydrogen, sulfur, chlorine and sometimes aluminum.

How rapid is rapid? Well, if you could somehow get a wire coat hanger to rust from one end, it might take a week or more to travel an inch along its length; if you burned a sheet of newspaper, flames would probably devour it in less than half a minute; if you could start an explosive reaction in a modern detonating compound like RDX, the reaction would travel nine kilometers in one second.

A Works bomb is created by combining Works toilet cleaner and aluminum foil in a sealed container. The chemical reaction between the acidic toilet cleaner and the reactive aluminum foil produces hydrogen gas, which builds up pressure inside the container until it bursts, creating a loud explosion. This reaction is dangerous and highly irresponsible, as it can cause harm or property damage.

No - though it's released as a by-product of nuclear fission (bomb explosions or reactors), it's not used as a primary component in either prior to fission.

Two common confirmatory tests for intact explosives located in debris are gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). These tests analyze the chemical composition of the debris to identify specific explosives compounds, providing conclusive evidence of their presence.

Inhaling smoke from a smoke bomb can be harmful, as it may contain toxic chemicals and irritants that can cause respiratory issues and irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. It is important to avoid direct inhalation of smoke from any source to protect your health. If you have inhaled smoke from a smoke bomb and experience symptoms such as difficulty breathing or coughing, seek medical attention immediately.

Known as the Miznay-Schardin effect, a section of metal is shaped into a projectile by the force of an explosion. Also known as a platter charge, a metal disk with explosives on one side is turned from a disk into a bullet when the explosives are detonated, and driven forward at high speed at the same time.

Ok, it's really complicated. One way could be this. There is a small ball with a hole about 1 inch across in it. You have a small tank wth the width and depth of the hole. It is filled with positivley charged ions and negativley charged electrons, heated up very hot, (plasma). If one were to insert the tank into the ball it would keep the plasma alive. That would start the countdown. A couple seconds later the glass on the tank will break. Inside the ball is a electric magnet that creates a field about 10 ft wide that the plasma can travel throughout, destroying all it touches. This method is exteremley expensive. We would nees have the government to pitch in just to make one.

A neutron bomb is a form of nuclear weapon. It explodes in several steps. In the first step, control circuits fire electronic blasting caps cause conventional explosives to detonate. They are shaped in such as way that the explosion crushes a ball of nuclear material (mainly plutonium) causing that to produce nuclear fission (an atomic explosion). THAT serves as the trigger to a nuclear fusion explosion- (similar to the hydrogen bomb). This releases heat, blast, and neutrons.

Depends on how severe the shockwave is- At very high energy levels, you would be thrown through the air. At extremely high levels, the air sacs in your lungs would be ruptured from the force, resulting in death. At higher levels, your body would be torn apart. A low levels, you could have your hearing damaged, be stunned.

That device would be commonly referred to as a WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction). These types of devices pose significant threats due to their potential to cause widespread destruction, harm, and chaos. Efforts to prevent the proliferation and use of WMDs are a top priority for national security agencies worldwide.

The two major hazards associated with conventional explosives are explosion and fragmentation. Explosion occurs when the explosive material is detonated, releasing a large amount of energy in a short period of time. Fragmentation refers to the flying debris and shrapnel that can cause injury or damage when an explosive device detonates.

A hydrogen bomb is a series or sequence of events that must take place in a specific order. Only a very small part of that is chemical. Conventional chemical explosives are used as the trigger to begin the sequence. Electrical detonators are activated by an electric current that creates heat in the detonator. That heat causes a small amount of explosive in the detonator to to explode. THAT explosion is chemical- an unstable chemical drops from a high to a lower energy level, giving up heat that creates a shock wave. That shock wave causes another chemical reaction- in the main explosive lenses of the bomb. Those chemical explosives ALSO drop to a lower energy level in a chemical reaction- creating a larger shock wave. That shock wave then physically crushes a mass of plutonium, and begins a NUCLEAR process- where the ultra-dense compressed plutonium undergoes nuclear fission, breaking down into lighter elements, releasing tremendous heat, shock, and free neutrons. That FISSION reaction triggers the next stage, where very light elements such as hydrogen are compressed to the point that they FUSE into heavier elements, liberating a greater amount of energy in the form of heat, blast, and radiation.

I have heard that in World War II a 'grease bomb' was a form of sticky bomb. The soldiers used them to take out tanks by taking explosives and making them sticky and stuck them under or on enemy army tanks (or panzers as the Germans called them). I'm sure there are more sophisticated ones now.

Plutonium is the preferred fuel for nuclear bombs due to its greater efficiency in sustaining a nuclear chain reaction compared to uranium. Its higher fissionability and smaller critical mass make it the more suitable choice for achieving the explosive yield required in nuclear weapons.

Potash