The History of Chemical Explosives

The History of Chemical Explosives An explosion can be defined as the rapid expansion of a material or device that exerts a sudden pressure on its surroundings. It can be caused by one of three things: a chemical reaction that occurs during conversion of elemental compounds, a mechanical or physical impact, or a nuclear reaction on the atomic/subatomic level. Gasoline exploding when ignited is a chemical explosion brought about by the sudden conversion of a hydrocarbon to carbon dioxide and water. The explosion that occurs when meteor strikes the earth is a mechanical explosion. And a nuclear warhead explosion is the result of the nucleus of a radioactive substance, like plutonium, suddenly splitting apart in an uncontrolled fashion. But it is chemical explosives that are the most common form of explosives in human history, used both for creative/commercial and destructive effect. The strength of a given explosive is measured that the rate of expansion it exhibits during detonation. Lets look briefly at some common chemical explosives. Black Powder It is unknown who invented the first explosive black powder. Black powder, also known as gunpowder, is a mixture of saltpeter (potassium nitrate), sulfur, and charcoal (carbon). It originated in China around in the ninth century and was in wide use throughout Asia and Europe by the end of the 13th century. It was commonly used in fireworks and signals, as well as in mining and building operations. Black powder is the oldest form of ballistic propellant and it was used with early muzzle-type firearms and other artillery uses. In 1831, William Bickford an English leather merchant invented the first safety fuse. Using a safety fuse made black powder explosives more practical and safer. But because black powder is messy explosive, by the end of the 18th century it was replaced by high explosives and by cleaner smokeless powder explosives, such as what is currently used in firearm ammunition. Black powder is categorized as a low explosive because it expands and subsonic speeds when it detonates. High explosives, by contract, expand as supersonic speeds, thereby creating much more force. Nitroglycerin Nitroglycerin is a chemical explosive that was discovered by Italian chemist Ascanio Sobrero in 1846. It was the first explosive developed that was more powerful than black powder, Nitroglycerin is a mix of nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and glycerol, and it is highly volatile. Its inventor, Sobrero, warned against its potential dangers, but Alfred Nobel adopted it as a commercial explosive in 1864. Several serious accidents, however, caused pure liquid nitroglycerin to be widely banned, leading to Nobels eventual invention of dynamite. Nitrocellulose In 1846, Chemist Christian Schonbein discovered nitrocellulose, also called guncotton, when he accidentally spilled a mixture of potent nitric acid on a cotton apron and the apron exploded as it dried. Experiments by Schonbein and others quickly established a means of manufacturing guncotton safely, and because it had a clean, explosive power almost six times greater than black powder, it quickly was adopted for use as means for propelling projectiles in weapons.   TNT In 1863, TNT or Trinitrotoluene was invented by German chemist Joseph Wilbrand. Originally formulated as a yellow dye, its explosive properties were not immediately evident. Its stablity was such that it could be safely poured into shell casings, and in the early 20th century it came into standard usage for German and British military munitions. Considered a high explosive, TNT is still in common use by the U.S. military and by construction companies around the world.   Blasting Cap In 1865, Alfred Nobel invented the blasting cap. The blasting cap provided a safer and dependable means of detonating nitroglycerin. Dynamite In 1867, Alfred Nobel patented dynamite, a high explosive that consisted of a mixture of three parts nitroglycerine, one part diatomaceous earth (ground silica rock) as an absorbent, and a small amount of sodium carbonate antacid as a stabilizer. The resultant mixture was considerably safer than pure nitroglycerine, as well as being much more powerful than black powder. Other materials are now used as the absorbent and stabilizing agents, but dynamite remains the premier explosive for use in commercial mining and construction demolition. Smokeless Powders In 1888, Alfred Nobel invented a dense smokeless powder explosive called ballistite. In 1889, Sir James Dewar and Sir Frederick Abel invented another smokeless gunpowder called cordite. Cordite was made of  nitroglycerin, guncotton, and a petroleum substance gelatinized by addition of acetone. Later variations of these smokeless powders form the propellant for most modern firearms and artillery. Modern Explosives Since 1955, a variety of additional high explosives has been developed. Created mostly for military use, they also have commercial applications, such as in deep drilling operations.  Explosives such as nitrate-fuel oil mixtures or ANFO and ammonium nitrate-base water gels now account for seventy percent of the explosives market. These explosives come in various types including: HMXRDXHNIWONC

40 Helpful Words Ending in -Ade

40 Helpful Words Ending in -Ade 40 Helpful Words Ending in -Ade 40 Helpful Words Ending in -Ade By Mark Nichol Words ending in -ade (or -cade) have a certain panache to them, often denoting a vivid action (including, frequently, military activities or endeavors) or a product or outcome of an action hence several words referring to food or drink. Most terms in English are borrowed from the French suffix -ade, cognate with the Italian form -ata (which also appears, for example, in inamorata, meaning â€Å"lover†) and the Spanish -ada (found in such words as armada, meaning â€Å"armed fleet†); all three elements are derived from the Latin suffix -atus (as in apparatus). In several words with -ade endings, such as brocade, decade, invade, pervade, and pomade, the suffix is not derived from -atus, but check out this list of those that are: 1. Accolade: an award or an expression of praise, or a ceremony at which one or both are given 2. Ambuscade: an ambush 3. Aquacade: an aquatic entertainment in which participants swim and dive to music 4. Balustrade: a row of vertical supports for a railing, or any barrier 5. Barricade: a barrier or other obstacle, or the action of creating one (unrelated to barrier, which comes from the Anglo-French word barre, meaning â€Å"bar†) 6. Blockade: an obstruction to prevent supplies or military personnel from moving from one place to another by land or sea, or any similar preventive action, or an interruption of physiological processes; also, to undertake such an action 7. Brigade: a large military unit, or an organized group (as a bucket brigade, a line of people relaying buckets full of water to douse a fire) 8. Cannonade: a bombardment, or the figurative equivalent, as in a verbal attack 9. Carronade: a short-barreled cannon (unrelated to cannon, the word is from the place name of Carron, Scotland) 10. Cascade: one or more steps in a waterfall or any similar movement, a cascading pattern in material, or a process that occurs in stages in which each one causes another; also, used as a verb to describe one of these actions 11. Cavalcade: a procession of people riding on animals or in vehicles or vessels, or a series 12. Charade: a puzzle or game (the latter referred to as charades) in which participants try to guess a word or phrase, or a pretense 13. Chiffonade: a vegetable or herb serving or garnish 14. Crusade: an enthusiastic effort to remedy or improve a situation; also a verb and, as crusader or crusading, an adjective 15. Colonnade: a line of regularly spaced columns 16. Defilade: a fortification that narrows the enemy’s maneuvering area, or the area in a structure or in a terrain out of the enemy’s line of fire 17. Enfilade: a flanking attack along the enemy’s line of fire, or a series of rooms, each of which opens into the next 18. Escalade: an act of climbing, especially a fortification 19. Escapade: an unapproved or unconventional activity or adventure 20. Esplanade: an open area for walking or driving, especially on a shoreline 21. Fusillade: shots fired simultaneously or in succession, or a similar attack of projectiles or the figurative equivalent, as in an outburst of spoken or written criticism 22. Gallopade: a type of spirited dance 23. Gasconade: boasting or bravado 24. Glissade: a gliding or sliding ballet step, or any movement suggestive of one; also, to undertake this action 25. Lemonade: a drink made of lemon juice, sugar, and water 26. Limeade: a drink made of lime juice, sugar, and water 27. Marinade: a savory sauce used to flavor and/or tenderize meat; the verb form is marinate 28. Marmalade: a jelly that includes pieces of fruit and fruit rind 29. Masquerade: a party whose attendees wear masks and costumes, or the costume itself; also, something done for show or to deceive, or to disguise, or a verb describing this type of behavior 30. Motorcade: a procession of motorized vehicles 31. Orangeade: a drink made of orange juice, sugar, and water 32. Palisade: a protective fence made of pointed stakes, or one such stake, or a line of cliffs suggesting a barrier 33. Parade: a procession or mobile array, a formation of troops or the site of the formation, people strolling or the place where they stroll, or a spectacle or a series of actions or efforts suggestive of such an exhibition; also, to perform one of these activities 34. Pasquinade: a satire 35. Promenade: a place where people stroll, or a public walk or ride undertaken for enjoyment or to show off, a march at the beginning of a formal ball in which all guests participate, or a movement in square dancing (in addition, the word from which prom is truncated); also, to undertake any of these activities 36. Renegade: one who defies normal standards of behavior or abandons one cause for another 37. Scalade: an archaic variant of escalade (see above) 38. Serenade: a musical performance intended to compliment the listener, especially one performed as part of a courtship, or a specific type of musical composition for a small group of performers 39. Stockade: an enclosure of posts or stakes constructed to keep prisoners in or the enemy out 40. Torsade: an ornament, especially for a hat, of twisted cord or ribbon Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! 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