According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, explosives occur when a loud and violent release of energy takes place, causing the break up and shock of any nearby materials. Explosives were first introduced from a scientific point of view in the 1840’s when a popular substance known as black powder served as a convenient bullet for the use of guns and also fireworks (Shu, 2012). When realization struck that the amount of smoke being released from the black powder was far too extreme, a new method of the same uses was needed to cause less strain and less physical damage. Explosives can be classified as chemical explosives or commercial chemical products, which are used only for nonexplosive functions (Akhavan, 2004). To understand chemical explosions, one must master the skill of recognizing and classifying.
Akhavan (2004), a professor of Explosives Chemistry and head of the Center of Defense Chemistry at the University of Southampton, stated that a bulk of the explosives known as chemical explosives contain oxygen, nitrogen and other oxidizable elements, such as hydrogen and carbon. In many cases, the oxygen in the reaction is attached to nitrogen creating NO, NO_2, NO_3, etc. (Akhavan, 2004). When these reactions occur, the nitrogens and oxygens split and reunify with the carbon and hydrogen ions known most widely as fuel components. In the duration of the reaction, masses of heat and energy are discharged creating a shock to the surroundings of the reaction. The Federation of American Scientists (1998), (FAS), states that the heat and shock released in a chemical explosion make chemical explosives either exothermic or endothermic. As known by the Law of the Conservation of Energy, energy is not created nor destroyed, only conve...
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Explosive. (2009, July 01). Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http:// science.howstuffworks.com/dictionary/chemistry-terms/explosive-info.htm
Military. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2014, from http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/explosives.htm
Hallowell, S. (2008, January 14). Explosives Trace Detectives. Retrieved April 25, 2014, from http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2008hls/Breakouts/502AMonday/TS19/LAStHoltracev2b.pdf
Common Explosives - 2014 Counterterrorism Calendar. (n.d.). Retrieved April 27, 2014, from http://www.nctc.gov/site/technical/common_explosives.html
History has proven the use of chemical weapons ranging back for decades. From the Greeks in ancient Europe using Greek fire to South American tribes using a form of tear gas made of grounded up hot chili peppers to scare away enemy tribes. As well as dipping the tips of spear heads with a poisonous toxin. Poisonous toxins used from live reptiles like frogs and venom from the snakes found from whichever region had enough potency venom to exterminate. The past has proven, that in order for Armies to survive and win, it relied on out smarting the enemy. New technologies and the evolution of weaponry were left to the brightest minds from those eras to develop.
Fort Leonard Wood is the home of the Chemical Corps, and it’s also the home of the Chemical Defense Training Facility (CDTF). The Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, DOD civilians and allied nation Soldiers come to train at Fort Leonard Wood’s CDTF. In the Army for a Soldier to complete his chemical Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) he needs to successfully finish the CDTF. As he becomes a Non-Commissioned Officer or Officer, he will have to come back to Advanced Leaders Course (ALC), Senior Leaders Course (SLC), Basic Officer Leaders Course (BOLC), or Chemical Captain Career Course (CCC) as this is a requirement determined by the Department of Defense (Unknown, Chemical and Biological Defense Program annual report to Congress (2000), 2001).
"Federation of American Scientists :: Types of Chemical Weapons." Federation of American Scientists. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.
Since man’s first experiences with fire we have longed to control it and we wished to will it to do our bidding. For very long we failed mostly, and we still do sometimes, but with the trials and experiments we have done and died doing, we succeed now, mostly. The first formula that is still written down of an “explosive or pyrotechnic composition” are the three examples of gunpowder in the 1044A.D. Chinese military guide Wujing Zongyao which showed a few uses of this powder they had experimented with for near a hundred years. The most used formula from it was approximately 50% KNO3, also known as Saltpeter in those times, and formally called Potassium nitrate today, ~25% S, Sulfur, and ~25% carbonaceous matter (mostly charcoal and compounds mixed with impure sulfur); the other formulas move the percentages for the KNO3 around 10-15%, S 5-10%, and carbonaceous 7-20% to adjust burn rates and usefulness in certain situations. The likely only reason gunpowder was ever invented was the Chinese’s wish to live long, and their many mixtures of elixirs, which was what gunpowder was intended to be used as (more-pyrotechnics.com). “Within 200 years China had several crude weapons, mostly huge iron or alternative metal barrels and maybe a wooden grip but with no aiming attachment. They also had very many types of fireworks using no telling how many formulae for devices ranging in size, color, and purpose. People in Europe hear of this powder and its power, and then slowly find out more“(more-pyrotechnics.com). Then by 300 years they had better arsenals, larger cannons that actually worked well, and better, lighter barrels. The Indians and Islamic nations have made use of this by now, neither surpassing China’s previous ones nor Europe’s futu...
Fries, A. A., & West, C. J. (1921). Chemical warfare,. New York [etc.: McGraw-Hill book company, inc..
Chemical warfare is the use of chemical agents to injure, incapacitate, or kill enemy combatants. First seen during World War I (WWI), the devastating effects of widespread chemical warfare were eventually deemed inhumane by an international consensus and chemical agents were subsequently banned from use. Still, despite the tendency of the modern warrior to overlook antiquated tactics, the threat of chemical agents in the theater of war cannot be entirely discounted by today's Soldier. By analyzing the application, evolution, and overall legacy of chemical weapons in the Great War we can work to minimize the danger they pose in current conflicts and those of the near future. For it is only by understanding the past that we can understand the present and shape tomorrow.
This smoke bomb lab helped me understand chemical bonding and reactions by starting from the very beginning with mixing the nitrate, sugar, and melted crayon. Mixing them formed a texture almost like powdery peanut butter with some liquid which was actually pretty interesting. The second chemical bonding I seen was that, once putting the solution in the tin-can and it started solidifying due to all the stuff we mixed together. It didn’t take long at all for it to start forming into a solid. When we went outside and lit the wick on fire showed the main chemical reaction throughout the whole experiment. The nitrate reacting with the lighted wick started a big fire in one of the groups cans but some of the other groups bombs didn’t get to light like it was supposed to and the wick just burned out. I was one of the groups whose bombs didn’t work properly. I think it’s because we didn’t put the wick in deep enough to our solution so when we lit it the fire just burned out before going into the solution.
Knowing the history of chemical weapons and their devastating effects will help explain the reasoning for the development of weapons inspection team and why their success is vital to world peace. This paper will provide a small amount of history on chemical weapons, discuss the history of the weapons inspection teams and explain how the members are selected and trained. Incidents of the use of weapons of mass destruction will be mentioned which explain the reason for the development of the weapons inspection teams.
Zilinskas, Raymond A. "Mustard gas." World Book Advanced. World Book, 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
The use of chemicals in weapons dates back thousands of years, from poison arrows to poisonous fumes. However chemical warfare took a new approach during World War I. The first large scale attack was chlorine in april 1915. World War II brought on a entire new spectrum of chemical weapons and many countries obtained large stockpiles.1There are four different categories in which chemical weapons are organized based on what the effects are. The first category is blister agents which cause blistering of the skin. The second category is choking agents which cause the airway passages in the victim's throat to close resulting in death. The third category is nerve agents which causes damages to the victims nerves. The most recent uses of chemical weapons was on august 21, 2013 in Damascus ,Syria which resulted in numerous casualties.2
Arson, as defined by Find Law, is “the willful and malicious burning or charring of property…classifying as a felony due to the potential to cause injuries or death” (criminal.findlaw.com). FEMA reports estimates about “280 deaths, 775 injuries and $593 million in property loss each ...
Millions have died. Billions are afraid that they may be next. War is the last thing that anyone needs and chemical warfare is todays age. Countries have developed thousands of different chemical weapons, such as adamsite, a sickening agent, tear gas, and malodorants, things that smell so bad that can literally knock you unconscious. There are many downsides to chemical warfare, and even though chemical warfare may have helpful attributes, it will bring the downfall of the human race. This will happen by sickness, terrorism, rebellion, total destruction, and inevitably death. Many believe the same that I do, that if chemical warfare breaks out the whole world could be destroyed.
Nitroglycerine on its own was too unstable, to use effectively, therefore Alfred Nobel a Swedish scientist and chemist found a substance to add to nitroglycerine that would render it harmless until ready to use. This substance was Diatomaceous Earth. It was soaked inside nitroglycerine and wrapped in paper. Alfred Nobel called this new explosive Dynamite (Patent Number: US 697842 A, 1867) and it revolutionised the way of using explosives making him a very successful entrepreneur. ("Not Yet Published", 2011), (Madehow.com, 2016)
This is an overview of the Chemical Defense Training Facility (CDTF) which is located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. It is a compilation of information from multiple sources found on the World Wide Web, printed materials, audio/visual media, and a personal interview. The covered topics will be: The history of the CDTF to include its beginning at Fort McClellan, the mission of the CDTF at Fort Leonard Wood, the current leadership, the capability of its facilities, and the training conducted there. It emphasizes the need for a facility where members of all the services of the Department of Defense (DOD), some civilian agency personnel, and foreign entities can receive realistic training. The common theme is the safety with which training has been, and continues to be conducted within its facilities.