5: Explosions

Question 1

What is an explosion?

Answer 1

a very fast reaction in which a large volume of hot gases is released in a short time. The expanding gases create a shock wave that travels at high speed, damaging objects in its path.

Question 2

Example of explosion

Answer 2

Hydrogen explodes when it is ignited:
hydrogen + oxygen = water
2H2 = O2 = 2H2O

Question 3

Why is TNT a high explosive?

Answer 3

The shock waves that exploding TNT produces travel faster than the speed of sound, giving it the potential to cause a lot of damage.

Question 4

Equation for TNT

Answer 4

trinitrotoluene (TNT) = carbon + nitrogen + water + carbon monoxide
2C7H5N3O6 = 7C + 3N2 + 5H20 + 7CO

Question 5

What makes dynamite safer to handle?

Answer 5

It is mixed in a mineral powder

Question 6

How can you increase the surface area of a reactant?

Answer 6

Using a powder form has a larger surface area than lump form. This is because the particles that were inside the lump become exposed on the surface when it is crushed

Question 7

How does a larger surface area increase rate of reaction?

Answer 7

It allows more successful collisions between the particles

Question 8

What are combustible substances?

Answer 8

Substances that burn easily