ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMISTRY & EXPLOSIVES MATERIALS A Abelite An explosive, composed mainly of ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluene. Absolute Zero The least possible temperature for all substances. Generally accepted as -273.15ÝC AC Alternating current. Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) A nominal value expressed in terms of percentage defective per hundred units, by which a group of sampling plans is identified. The sampling plans so identified have a high probability of accepting lots containing material with a process average not greater than the designed value of the AQL. Acetin [CH3COOC3H5(OH)2] also known as glyceryl monoacetate, a colourless hydroscopic liquid. Used as an intermediate for various explosives, and a solvent for various dyes. Acetone [CH3COCH3] colourless, flammable liquid. Acetone is widely used in industry as a solvent for many organic substances. It is used in making synthetic Resins and fillers, smokeless powders, and many other organic compounds. Boiling Point 56ÝC. Useful solvent for acetylene, also known as the simplest saturated ketone. Acetylene or ethyne, a colourless gas and the simplest alkyne Hydrocarbon. Explosive on contact with air, it is stored dissolved under pressure in Acetone. It is used to make neoprene rubber, plastics, and resins. The oxyacetylene torch mixes and burns oxygen and acetylene to produce a very hot flame-as high as 3480ÝC (6300ÝF)-that can cut steel and weld iron and other metals. Produced by the action of wateron calcium carbide and catalytically from naphtha. Acetylide A carbide formed by bubbling acetylene through a metallic salt solution, eg cuprous acetylide, Cu2C2. These are violently explosive compounds. Acid Any substance capable of giving up a proton; a substance that ionizes in solution to give the positive ion of the solvent; a solution with a pH measurement less than 7. Acidity the quantitative capacity of aqueous solutions to react with hydroxyl ions. It is measured by titration with a standard solution of base to a specified end point. Acids & Bases are two related classes of chemicals; the members of each class have a number of common properties when dissolved in a solvent, usually water. Acids in water solutions exhibit the following common properties: they taste sour; turn litmus paper red; and react with certain metals, such as zinc, to yield hydrogen gas. Bases in water solutions exhibit these common properties: they taste bitter; turn litmus paper blue; and feel slippery. When a water solution of acid is mixed with a water solution of base, a salt and water are formed; this process, called neutralisation, is complete only if the resulting solution has neither acidic nor basic properties. When an acid or base dissolves in water, a certain percentage of the acid or base particles will break up, or dissociate, into oppositely charged ions. The Arrhenius theory of acids and bases defines an acid as a compound that can dissociate in water to yield hydrogen ions (H+) and a base as a compound that can dissociate in water to yield hydroxyl ions (OH-). The Brönsted-Lowry theory defines an acid as a proton donor and a base as a proton acceptor. The Lewis theory defines an acid as a compound that can accept a pair of electrons and a base as a compound that can donate a pair of electrons. Each of the three theories has its own advantages and disadvantages; each is useful under certain conditions. Strong acids, © Convert to ebook by Tchemik 2oo4 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMISTRY & EXPLOSIVES MATERIALS such as hydrochloric acid, and strong bases, such as potassium hydroxide, have a great tendency to dissociate in water and are completely ionised in solution. Weak acids, such as acetic acid, and weak bases, such as ammonia, are reluctant to dissociate in water and are only partially ionised in solution. Strong acids and strong bases make very good Electrolytes (see Electrolysis), i.e., their solutions readily conduct electricity. Weak acids and weak bases make poor electrolytes. Acne Spots A useful visual aid that youthful pimple-spotted adolescents are very likely under the age of 18 and therefore not legally able to purchase fireworks. All shopkeepers should be on the look-out for all customers with inflammation of the sebaceous glands. Accroid Resin Also known as red gum. A natural plant extract used as a binder and/or a fuel in lots of pyrotechnic compositions. See Gums. Actinide Series The radioactive metals, with atomic numbers 89 through 103, in group IIIb of the periodic table. They are Actinium, Thorium, Protactinium, Uranium, Neptunium, Plutonium, Americium, Curium, Berkelium, Californium, Einsteinium, Fermium, Mendelevium, Nobelium, and Lawrencium. All members of the series have chemical properties similar to actinium. Those elements with atomic numbers greater than 92 are called Transuranium Elements. Activation treatment of a substance by heat, radiation, or activating reagent to produce a more complete or rapid chemical or physical change. Acyclic Compound An organic compound with molecules which have carbon atoms arranged in open chains as opposed to closed chains. Additive Something added to a basic composition to accomplish some special purpose - mostly in small proportions. Adhesion and cohesion, attractive forces between material bodies. Adhesive forces act between different substances, whereas cohesive forces act within a single substance, holding its atoms, ions, or molecules together. Without these forces, solids and liquids would act as gases. Surface Tension in liquids results from cohesion, and Capillarity results from a combination of adhesion and cohesion. Friction between two solid bodies depends in part on adhesion. Adiabatic Occurring without gain or loss of heat; a change of the properties, such as volume and pressure of the contents of an enclosure, without exchange of heat between the enclosures and its surroundings. Adiabatic Flame Temperature As applied to interior ballistics calculation, the temperature that the gaseous products of combustion of the propellant would attain if maintained at constant volume and without loss of energy to the surrounding medium. Adiabatic Temperature The temperature attained by a system undergoing a volume or pressure change in which no heat enters or leaves the system. Adsorption The adhesion of an extremely thin layer solid, liquid, or vapour molecules to the surface of a solid or liquid. Aerial firework generally a firework which functions in the air/sky i.e. rockets, shells, roman candles and mines. Aerial shell Material to be added later Aerobic Living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen. © Convert to ebook by Tchemik 2oo4 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMISTRY & EXPLOSIVES MATERIALS Aerosol A mixture of extremely fine liquid or solid particles (colloidal system) and a gas or air such as smokes or fog. Agglomeration The property of particles to cohere, thereby increasing apparent particle size. Air Blast, Mil. The airborne shock wave or acoustic transient generated by an explosion. Air Burst, Fwk. A burst of a projectile or bomb above the ground. Alcohol is a class of organic compounds with the general formula R-OH, where R is an alkyl group made up of carbon and hydrogen and -OH is one or more hydroxyl groups, each made up of one atom of oxygen and one of hydrogen. Generally, with fireworks, the term is applied to ethyl alcohol [C2H5OH]. Although the term alcohol often refers to Ethanol, the alcohol in alcoholic beverages, the class of alcohol also includes Methanol and the amyl, butyl, and propyl alcohols, all with one hydroxyl group; the glycols, with two hydroxyl groups; and glycerol, with three. Many of the characteristic properties and reactions of alcohols are due to the polarity, or unequal distribution, of electric charges in the C-O-H portion of the molecule. Alizarin [C14H6O2(OH)2] also known as 1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone. Red prism crystals or needles, melting point 289ÝC. One of the most important natural and synthetic dyes, which can also be nitrated. Alkali Metals are elements in group Ia of the Periodic Table. In order of increasing atomic number, they are Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, and Francium. They are softer than other metals, and have lower melting points and densities. All react violently with water, releasing hydrogen and forming hydroxides. They tarnish rapidly, even in dry air. They never occur uncombined in nature. Alkali, Hydroxide of an Alkali Metal. Alkalies are soluble in water and form strongly basic solutions. They neutralize acids, forming salts and water. Strong alkalies (e.g., those of sodium or potassium) are called caustic alkalies. Alkaline-Earth Metals are elements in group IIa of the Periodic Table. In order of increasing atomic number, they are Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, and Radium. They are softer than most other metals and react readily with water. Their properties are exceeded by the corresponding Alkali Metal. Alkalinity the capacity of water to neutralize acids, a property imparted by the water's content of carbonate, bicarbonate, hydroxide, and on occasion borate, silicate, and phosphate. It is expressed in milligrams per litre of equivalent calcium carbonate (mg/l CaCO3). All-Fire Current The minimum amperage (or wattage) level, which must be applied to a bridge wire circuit to reliably, ignite the surrounding explosive material without regard to the time of operation. Operation at all-fire level should be avoided. Allotropy The occurrence of certain chemical elements in two or more forms; the forms are called allotropes. Allotropes generally differ in physical properties, such as colour and hardness; they may also differ in molecular structure or in chemical activity but are usually alike in most chemical properties. Diamond and Graphite are two allotropes of the element Carbon. Alloy A combination, usually of 2 or more metals, which takes on some of the characteristics of its components. Alloys cannot be separated into their constituent parts by normal physical methods. © Convert to ebook by Tchemik 2oo4 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHEMISTRY & EXPLOSIVES MATERIALS Alternating current (ac) current that reverses its direction at regular intervals, such as a common 240 volt circuit.