Chemistry 1027A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Calcium Oxide, Glycerol, Pancuronium Bromide
17 Nov 2016
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The use of chemistry in warfare is not new. Example: in the 7th (cid:272)e(cid:374)tur(cid:455), the b(cid:455)za(cid:374)ti(cid:374)e e(cid:373)pire spra(cid:455)ed (cid:862)greek fire(cid:863) (cid:373)ade usi(cid:374)g a secret composition of chemicals. To this day we do not know what greek fire was made from. But it has been speculated that it was made from turpentine (made from pine sap it acts as a fuel), sulfur, and quicklime (cao, or calcium oxide it enhances the fire). Combustion in a furnace uses ch4 and oxygen (o2), which produces co2 and water. Fuel, in short, rea(cid:272)ts (cid:449)ith o(cid:454)(cid:455)ge(cid:374), (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h i(cid:374) this (cid:272)ase is (cid:272)alled a(cid:374) (cid:858)o(cid:454)ida(cid:374)t(cid:859), or o(cid:454)idizi(cid:374)g age(cid:374)t. but a(cid:374) ignition source is also necessary to combust this mixture. Oxygen can be obtained simply from the air, but for an especially violent reaction another oxidant is needed. In mixtures like greek fire, it is common to find saltpeter, or potassium nitrate (kno3), which is a very good oxidant.
