• Question: how do you make an explosion

    Asked by 1ewis penguin to David, Eva, Kate, Nicholas, Rachel on 12 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Nicholas Pearce

      Nicholas Pearce answered on 12 Nov 2015:

      Hey,

      There are a few types of explosion, but since I use chemicals I tell you how to make a chemical explosion! You need a chemical that can quickly produce a large quantity of hot gas which will take up a large amount of space – pushing outwards on it’s container until it explodes.
      Molecules with lots of nitrogen tend to be explosive. Nitroglycerin (in dynamite), TNT (short for trinitrotoluene) and nitrocellulose are all great explosives thanks to having lots of nitro groups (NO2) in their structure.
      To make them explode just add a little bit more energy – add a spark of electricity, set them on fire or just hit them with a hammer and BOOM!

      You can also make explosions by heating a sealed container – eventually it gets so hot it has to explode to release the pressure. That’s why an egg will blow up in a microwave.

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