Background+Chemistry


 * Background Chemistry**

Chemical reactions make up almost everything we use on a daily basis, there are six types of chemical reactions; Combustion, Synthesis, Decomposition, Single-Displacement, Double-displacement, and Acid-Base, which is a certain type of double displacement reaction. One of the most common types of reactions is the synthesis reaction. When powdered aluminum and crushed iodine crystals are mixed with a drop of water, Aluminum Iodide is formed. With this reaction comes purple iodine smoke and combustion. The formation of Aluminum Iodide is a synthesis reaction. Synthesis reactions may be defined as one or more simple substances reacting to form a more complex substance. The formula for a synthesis reaction is as follows: ** A+B→AB ** Synthesis reactions make up many household products and many things that people find to be necessities. For example: some salts are made through the process of a synthesis reaction. Salts are used in a variety of sources, such as food, drinks, swimming pools, fertilisers, and general cooking. The formation of Aluminum Iodide is that of a rather appealing chemical reaction, as it stimulates visual senses. A thick cloud of vibrant purple smoke will begin to form before the reactants burst into flame to form the product. This is an example of combustion, as it burned and was exothermic, meaning it gives off heat. My next question was what are the determining differences from explosions, and combustion? I researched several websites and began with defining the two to gain a better understanding of what they both mean. Combustion is defined as a rapid oxidation, usually accompanied by heat, and light. Explosives is a compound or a mixture of compounds which, when subjected to heat, impact, friction, or shock, undergoes very rapid, self-propagating, heat- producing decomposition. From these definitions, it seems as though combustion always is in the presence of oxygen, and that explosives need some sort of contact, or shock, even being open in oxygen, in order for the reaction to occur. I next researched the properties of explosives, versus the properties of combustibles. I found that explosives are usually categorized into High order explosives and Low Order explosives, with high order being more explosive than low order. Explosives produces incredibly strong gases that give off enormous amounts of pressure into the atmosphere, the impact of the explosion depends on the amount of heat given off by the explosive.Low order explosives are categorised as being subsonic explosives, which means they are below 3,300 feet per second and do not have the over-pressurization wave that high order explosives have. An example of a Low Order explosive is gunpowder. High Order explosives are capable of creating a powerful blast effect. According to a website made by the military, a detonation is a powerful explosive effect or wave. The detonation velocity is how explosives are measured, as being confined or un-confined. With further research I came across the make-up of explosives and found that among oxygen carriers, antacids, and absorbents were combustibles. So although explosives are also in the presence of oxygen, explosives may be made up of some type of combustible. Explosives are separated into two categories regarding the susceptibility of the substance exploding. The two categories are Primary Explosives, and Secondary Explosives. Primary explosives may also be referred to as initiating explosives because they may also be used to ignite secondary explosives. Secondary explosives are more commonly used as they do not explode unless given a certain circumstance, whereas primary explosives can initiate much easier and unexpectedly. Explosives are used primarily as a weapon, by militaries, terrorist groups, and civilians, with things like fireworks. To determine the classification of the level of explosions I enquired to the Hazard Classification Code. There are six levels by which explosions are determined. At the hazard class of 1.1 the explosion is classified as a Mass Explosion. At the level of 1.2 the hazard description is described as a non-mass explosion, but fragment producing. At 1.3 it is described as a mass fire, with minor blasts or fragments. Level 1.4 is classified as Moderate fire, with no blast or fragment. Hazard division 1.5 is determined as Explosive substance, that is very insensitive, and lastly level 1.6 which is determined as explosive article, which is extremely insensitive. The Hazard Definition Scale is rated with the lowest number being the most severe. Since explosives are so dangerous, and so unreliable I decided to look up possible effects of explosions such as injuries. What I found was that injuries were based on the classification of the explosive, with the High order explosives causing the most damage. Primary injuries, which are caused by high order explosives usually affect organs internally such as the lungs, abdomen and middle ear. Secondary injuries from explosives are usually caused by debris. Tertiary injuries are results from wind from the explosion throwing the victim, and quaternary injuries are defined as all-explosion injuries, or illnesses not due to primary, secondary, or tertiary injuries. Overall I found that combustibles are much less effecting and less dangerous then explosives, that explosives can be made up of some combustibles, and that combustion can only take place in the presence of oxygen. The formation of Aluminum Iodide is an exothermic synthesis reaction, which does combust for a very short period of time.

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