• Question: why do chemicals explode?

    Asked by coolios (477brna35) to Lydia, Ciarán on 14 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Lydia Bach

      Lydia Bach answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      Hey,

      when chemicals combine they undergo a chemical reaction, which can result in a rearrangement of their atoms, which is different to the starting product. When that reaction releases energy we get a very very rapid production of gas and heat!

      Check out the SlowMo guys filming the explosion of a building in slow mo!

    • Photo: Ciarán O'Brien

      Ciarán O'Brien answered on 14 Nov 2014:

      Lydia’s nailed it, can’t put it any better than that, really 🙂

      Also the SlowMo guys are great, watch their videos!

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