Do Gas Tanks Explode? - Real Chemistry

In the moves gas tanks often explode. A stray bullet or a match ignite a fireball of epic proportions. Can this happen? In this video we discuss the nature of combustion reactions like burning gasoline and show that it, in fact, does not explode. Gasoline contains plenty of energy (more than TNT!) but because oxygen is required to release that energy the reaction is too slow to create an explosion. TNT, on the other hand, does explode because the chemical reaction involves just a single molecule (TNT). This means an entire stick of dynamite can release its energy all at once resulting in an explosion.

It turns out that TNT actually doesn't contain that much energy (less than gasoline and even cookies!). This makes gasoline and cookies good fuel while TNT makes for a good explosive.

Please do not try anything in this video at home!

Видео Do Gas Tanks Explode? - Real Chemistry канала Real Chemistry