Chemistry Kaboom Questions

Kaboom Video Questions

1.     Why is KABOOM the title of this video?

Because it is about blowing things up

2.     What type of shock wave is given off during an explosion?

Super Sonic Shock Wave

3.     What common kitchen substance did Sidney Alford blow up in his back yard?

Flour

4.     What nationality of people discovered the first explosive mixtures?

Chinese

What had they mixed up unknowingly?

Gunpowder

5.     What was gunpowder originally used for?

Rockets, firebombs, fireworks

6.     What is the main ingredient (common name) in gunpowder?

Potassium Nitrate, Salt Peter (black powder)

7.     In what century was the first “high explosive” discovered?

9^th Century

8.     What types of reactions give a shock wave its push?

Reactions behind the shock wave

9.     Who is considered the father of high explosives? Why

Alfred Nobel

10.  What was considered Nobel’s most famous invention?

Dynamite

11.  Why did Nobel leave money for his famous prizes (peace prize, prize for literature etc.). Because he didn’t want to be remembered as the “Merchant of death”

12.  What is the difference between a chemical explosion and a nuclear explosion?

Chemical Explosion: Expansion of gases

Nuclear Explosion: Expansion of energy

13.  What year was the atomic bomb dropped in warfare? Against whom?

1945 against Japan

14.  Who was the director of the atomic bomb development program (Code name: Manhattan Project)? Oppenheimer

15.  Was this director always in favor of his invention? What was his favorite quote about its 20 years after its development? No

BACK OF WORKSHEET

1.     What are the three components for an explosion?

·      Fuel

·      Oxygen

·      Heat Source

2.     What did Alfred Nobel want his legacy to be?

He wanted his legacy to be the Nobel Peace Prize

3.     Give 3 inventions of Alfred Nobel

a.     Dynamite

b.     Smokeless Gunpowder

c.     Detonators

d.     Blasting Gel

4.     What is the main ingredient gunpowder? What is its proper chemical name?

Salt Peter (Black Powder) Main Ingredient: Potassium Nitrate

5.     Who discovered the first explosives? Chinese

What had they made? Gunpowder

What did they think it would do? Immortality

6.     How much pressure could be exerted by high explosives?

1000 atm

7.     Why is nitroglycerine so difficult to work with?

Because it is reactive and unstable

8.     What happened to make Alfred Nobel become unhappy with explosives?

·      Because he knew it was killing people

·      Brother Died in an accidental explosion

·      Because of the Obituary that he put in the paper saying he was the “Merchant of death”