Answer to Question #43069 in Chemistry for Zeph

Question

list the characteristic feature that you would expect to find the following an explosion in a building resulting from
1. a leakage of town gas
2. a leakage propane cylinder
3. a terrorist bomb

Answer 1

1. a leakage of town gas – Town gas is predominantly methane. It is odorless. To indicate its leakages mercaptan must be added. Town gas explodes at the concentration in the air about 5-15%. When this gas fills the space it explodes in a volumetric way. Destruction and fire are the main results of town gas explosion.

2. a leakage propane cylinder – Propane explodes at the concentration 1.8-9.5% in the air. Any spark can cause the explosion at this critical concentration. Propane explosion is accompanied with a high temperature gas emission. This explosion causes building's destruction or damage, fires and new centers of explosions. As a result of propane cylinder explosion a “fire ball” (10 m in diameter) can be formed.

3. a terrorist bomb – The main aim of this bomb explosion is the destructive effect. That is why the building after bomb explosion is destroyed or damaged. Depending on the explosive matter in the bomb, there also may be chemical or radioactive emissions to the air.