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Word War Ii Bombs
What were the main elements (of the periodic table) that were used in the manufacture of WWII bombs please?
Answers
Argon, like all noble gases, is inert, so it could have no direct use in creating an explosion.
00:04 Thu 12th Oct 2017
I am searching for a scientific answer for shall we say, artistic reasons.
Anyone who has read the marvellous collection of short stories entitled, 'The Periodic Table' by Primo Levi * - Italian Jewish chemist and survivor of Auschwitz might know what I mean.
Calibax thinks the most abundant element in such a bomb was carbon, TNT is, of course a compound.
*The first story in the book is a called 'Argon' but it has only a very tenuous connection to the noble gas.
Anyone who has read the marvellous collection of short stories entitled, 'The Periodic Table' by Primo Levi * - Italian Jewish chemist and survivor of Auschwitz might know what I mean.
Calibax thinks the most abundant element in such a bomb was carbon, TNT is, of course a compound.
*The first story in the book is a called 'Argon' but it has only a very tenuous connection to the noble gas.
Khandro, given that you've clarified that your looking strictly for elements rather than compounds, you can add Hydrogen, Uranium, Polonium and Plutonium just for starters.
I would point out though that the isotopes of these elements and others were used rather than the pure elemental form. Hydrogen is a case in point where the isotopes Deuterium and Tritium were used. The same applies to Polonium and Plutonium.
Remember also that the word "bomb" covers a tremendous range of explosives and has no precise definition. A "bomb" is not necessarily a projectile and don't necessarily have to be dropped from aircraft. Mines and hand grenades could be referred to as bombs just like artillery shells and a whole host of other stuff. For example, would you be prepared to add Phosphorus to the list on the basis it was an incendiary device but not really a bomb in the sense of serious ordnance? Phosphorus also has isotopes that were used in high explosives and traditional types of bombs during WWII. Magnesium was also used in pure elemental form.
What you can't do is pinpoint the "main" elements used in these applications simply because they varied over the war years plus different countries favoured different elements and there are no definitive records of the tonnage of elements that were used during these years.
I would point out though that the isotopes of these elements and others were used rather than the pure elemental form. Hydrogen is a case in point where the isotopes Deuterium and Tritium were used. The same applies to Polonium and Plutonium.
Remember also that the word "bomb" covers a tremendous range of explosives and has no precise definition. A "bomb" is not necessarily a projectile and don't necessarily have to be dropped from aircraft. Mines and hand grenades could be referred to as bombs just like artillery shells and a whole host of other stuff. For example, would you be prepared to add Phosphorus to the list on the basis it was an incendiary device but not really a bomb in the sense of serious ordnance? Phosphorus also has isotopes that were used in high explosives and traditional types of bombs during WWII. Magnesium was also used in pure elemental form.
What you can't do is pinpoint the "main" elements used in these applications simply because they varied over the war years plus different countries favoured different elements and there are no definitive records of the tonnage of elements that were used during these years.
theprof; Your answer, it would seem, highlights the naivety of my question, thank you all the same.
p.s. If you haven't read Levi this comes highly recommended;
https:/
p.s. If you haven't read Levi this comes highly recommended;
https:/
Khandro, your question was one of those that seem so straightforward to answer in theory, yet turn out to be the very devil to answer in detail precisely because there are so many complications involved. Elemental isotopes are just one of these complications. Believe me, it's not the first I've come across such a question on AB and be assured, I don't consider you to be naive in asking it.
I did read Primo Levi's book some years ago and I was quite fascinated as to how he managed to intertwine the events of his life with the elements. I've not read anything like it since and I can't recommend it highly enough.
I did read Primo Levi's book some years ago and I was quite fascinated as to how he managed to intertwine the events of his life with the elements. I've not read anything like it since and I can't recommend it highly enough.
theprof. Yes I agree about Levi's book, the first chapter 'Argon' was chosen as a title for its very obscurity (undetected for centuries) and gave him the link to tell of his family's history. The closing paragraphs of the final chapter, Carbon, is riveting.
I've also read 'If Not Now, When?', and the harrowing, 'If This is a Man'.
I've also read 'If Not Now, When?', and the harrowing, 'If This is a Man'.
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