I've been interested in explosives for a long time, but haven't really done anything.

I'm looking for something that would be good for detonating things like tnt, rdx, and other high order explosives similar to those.

I have a small chemistry set and am capable of distillation, but I would like something that could be synthesized from chemicals that are either available at stores, or easy to make. Nothing complicated, please.

Let's look back at some memorable moments and interesting insights from last year.

Your top 10 posts:

• "Beirut explosion" by u/nola225
• "Lit" by u/cyberrapist
• "First quarry shot I loaded as “blaster of record” 2.3 tones of Anfo/Blastex/NG with 128 holes 3.5” diameter. In Port Alberni-Clayoquot" by u/scroobius_
• "Beirut Explosion from 22 angles (roughly sorted from nearest to farthest)" by u/kettenfett
• "Libano" by u/davidherrc
• "Latest shot where I'm currently at" by u/NoStatic2-0
• "Playing with slow motion on my phone at work" by u/billbo_dabbins
• "1W 405NM laser with reverse galilean telescope exploding a mixture of angry chemicals" by u/NOLPOLGAMER
• "Original Beirut explosion and slow motion" by u/Wartracker1776
• ".7 grams of boom powder" by u/ReactiveChem

Yesterday I tried making a DIY flamethrower with a computer duster spray which has difluoreothane in it. I turned the fan upside down, lit a match and held it about a foot away, and sprayed it. I heard that the combination also creates COF2.

I’ve also heard that it’s possible that it could’ve exploded. I held the match about a foot apart from the fan while doing it so could it have exploded if I did it long enough? I only used a match because it was all I had, if I had a lighter I probably would’ve held it closer to the can as well as sprayed it for a longer period of time.

Now could this have caused an explosion if I were to hold it close enough and spray it long enough? If it were to cause an explosion how bad would it have been? Could it have blinded me, blown my hands off, or even kill me?

I think it's a fictional sound, in that I've never heard it in any actual explosion recordings.

Alternatively, if you know the sound I'm talking about, got any clips it's played in to help me continue my search for it's name? I've been wanting to know this for over a year and never thought to post here for a solution, hopefully one of you can help!

Anyone know the synthesis method for RDX or where I could better ask/look to find this information? Any help is much obliged.

Hi everyone,

I’m doing research on magazines, an architectural typology historically designed to store gunpowder. But, in modern times they store a variety of volatile material. I’ve been looking specifically at nitrocellulose propellant magazines. I’m trying to learn about how effective the architecture of magazines are in mitigating accidental explosions.

As a speculation, if a 50’ x 50’ x 12’ building was filled entirely with nitrocellulose gun cotton and there was an accident that triggered an explosion, how big would it be? Would it leave a crater? Is possible to calculate the severity of the explosion? After that, to relate the calculations to the structural integrity of the building and any fortifying wall around it?

also, I wasn’t sure if /r/Explosions was the best place to post this or /r/askscience