Brk: Massive explosion in China. Cause currently unclear.

[HoughMade]

China explosions: Potent chemical mix behind Tianjin blasts - BBC News



I remember my high school science teacher dropping a bit of potassium into water. Pop!

Remember how they said some firefighters had arrived on the scene? Easy to imagine spraying water on stuff without knowing what was there, or the water draining down to the potassium. Might've caused the first explosion, which aerosolized something else that ignited into the big boom.

ETA:
Turns out potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate are both used for solid rocket fuels.

Potassium nitrate is the oxidizer in black powder (saltpeter).

Ammonium nitrate + water = cold pack

 

[Mark-DuCo]

Metallic potassium is very reactive with water (forming KOH, H2, and heat). Potassium nitrate is a relatively inert salt that just dissolves in water without any excitement.

Based on the presence of huge amount of calcium carbide, my hypothesis of a fuel-air explosion seems even more likely. When calcium carbide is dropped in water, acetlyene gas is evolved. Burning small amounts of this gas is how old fashioned coal miner's carbide lamps function. A large enclosed space filled with acetylene and air (oxygen) in the right proportions would make an explosion that could easily produce the results that were witnessed this week.

Calcium carbide can be fun but is very powerful. We used to blow the tops of paint cans with a small hole in the bottom on a stick over a fire with just calcium carbide and spit . These guys went bigger than we ever did.

[video=youtube;Bczn_1S8SYo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bczn_1S8SYo[/video]

 

[rhino]

Calcium carbide can be fun but is very powerful. We used to blow the tops of paint cans with a small hole in the bottom on a stick over a fire with just calcium carbide and spit . These guys went bigger than we ever did.

Yep!

H-C≡C-H + O[SUB]2[/SUB] + Sparky McSparkson = KABOOM!

 

[Dead Duck]

 

[pudly]

I'm only surprised it took 3 days to get to this point:

China Sends In Chemical Warfare Troops, Orders Tianjin Blast Site Evacuation After Toxic Sodium Cyanide Found

 

[miguel]

I've seen a number of videos of the explosion, but this one is pretty damn "good", if you can call it that.

Personal rant: TURN YOUR CAMERA INTO LANDSCAPE MODE (SIDEWAYS) WHEN FILMING IMPORTANT ****!!!

[video=youtube;H_nnZntSYjo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_nnZntSYjo#t=52[/video]

 

[pudly]

With rain coming to the Tianjin area, people are worried that the sodium cyanide will be converted into hydrogen cyanide which is a chemical asphyxiant (displaces oxygen).

Poison Rain Feared In Tianjin

Tianjin’s vice mayor said “around 700 tonnes” of sodium cyanide was being stored at the facility. That’s a problem because as it turns out, the warehouse was only authorized to store around 24 tonnes.

 

[rhino]

With rain coming to the Tianjin area, people are worried that the sodium cyanide will be converted into hydrogen cyanide which is a chemical asphyxiant (displaces oxygen).

Poison Rain Feared In Tianjin

That would be bad. Sodium cyanide is okay unless and until you ingest it. Hydrogen cyanide gas evolving from an acidic aqueous environment could get a little sporty (that's how gas chambers work).

 

[pudly]

After rains in Tianjin, white foam has appeared everywhere and people are complaining that it is burning their lips and skin. I'd bed that it is from chemicals that were distributed during the explosions. The long term effects are still be to determined.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Calcium carbide can be fun but is very powerful. We used to blow the tops of paint cans with a small hole in the bottom on a stick over a fire with just calcium carbide and spit . These guys went bigger than we ever did.

[video=youtube;Bczn_1S8SYo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bczn_1S8SYo[/video]

Calcium carbide is also known as "bangsite", which is used in those little toy cannons. It was also used on caving/mining helmets back before good batteries; they'd combine it with water and burn the gas for light. The gas in question, released when the calcium carbide comes in contact with water, is acetylene, just like with a welding torch. Much energy in that stuff.

Potassium and ammonium nitrates are very powerful oxidizers, which is why bullets can be fired without outside air (you don't need a carburetor on your gun ). Ammonium nitrate in particular has been known to go boom on its own. It's primarily used as fertilizer, but it's the stuff that Oklahoma City guy filled the van with. Ammonium nitrate/fuel oil mix (ANFO) makes a very simple and powerful bomb.

 

[rhino]

Calcium carbide is also known as "bangsite", which is used in those little toy cannons. It was also used on caving/mining helmets back before good batteries; they'd combine it with water and burn the gas for light. The gas in question, released when the calcium carbide comes in contact with water, is acetylene, just like with a welding torch. Much energy in that stuff.

Too little, too late, EE!

Based on the presence of huge amount of calcium carbide, my hypothesis of a fuel-air explosion seems even more likely. When calcium carbide is dropped in water, acetlyene gas is evolved. Burning small amounts of this gas is how old fashioned coal miner's carbide lamps function. A large enclosed space filled with acetylene and air (oxygen) in the right proportions would make an explosion that could easily produce the results that were witnessed this week.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

OIC, yes. I was too stove up to read all the way through.

 

[spencer rifle]

The report on NPR this morning said this was possible because of political protection of the warehouse owner. Now people from the surrounding area that had their homes damaged are trying to get the gov to make their losses good. But they can't protest too loud or they fear they will be silenced permanently or at least cut out of the payback.

 

[rhino]

OIC, yes. I was too stove up to read all the way through.

Typical EE.

No, it's all right. Let the MEs do the heavy lifting and then you guys swoop in and claim the glory. It's okay, we're used to it.

 

[Gabriel]

I'm only surprised it took 3 days to get to this point:

China Sends In Chemical Warfare Troops, Orders Tianjin Blast Site Evacuation After Toxic Sodium Cyanide Found

They probably wanted to be sure that the Kaiju was dead before sending in ground troops.

 

[rhino]

They probably wanted to be sure that the Kaiju was dead before sending in ground troops.

Oh! Oh! GOJIRA!!!

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

Typical EE.

No, it's all right. Let the MEs do the heavy lifting and then you guys swoop in and claim the glory. It's okay, we're used to it.

Oooh! Oooh! Engineerist! Reported!

 

[rhino]

Oooh! Oooh! Engineerist! Reported!

Well played, sir. Well played indeed.

 

[ArcadiaGP]

Another?

Explosion at chemical plant in eastern China, 9 injured: State media, East Asia News & Top Stories - The Straits Times

 

[Dead Duck]

So -
What are the odds. Can you say arson?