A dry ice bomb is a simple

explosive An explosive (or explosive material) is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of potential energy that can produce an explosion if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of light, heat, sound, and pressure. An ex ...

device consisting of

dry ice Dry ice is the solid form of carbon dioxide. It is commonly used for temporary refrigeration as CO2 does not have a liquid state at normal atmospheric pressure and Sublimation (phase transition), sublimes directly from the solid state to the gas ...

and water in a sealed container.

Overview

Dry ice bombs are commonly made from simple materials such as a

plastic bottle A plastic bottle is a bottle constructed from high-density or low density plastic. Plastic bottles are typically used to store liquids such as water, soft drinks, motor oil, cooking oil, medicine, shampoo or milk. They range in sizes, from very ...

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

, and

. The bottle is partly filled with water and pieces of dry ice are added with the container being closed tightly soon after. As the solid

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

warms, it sublimates to gas and the pressure in the bottle increases. Bombs typically rupture within 30 seconds to half an hour, dependent largely on the temperature of the air outside the bottle. A dry ice bomb may develop

frost Frost is a thin layer of ice on a solid surface, which forms from water vapor that deposits onto a freezing surface. Frost forms when the air contains more water vapor than it can normally hold at a specific temperature. The process is simila ...

on its exterior prior to exploding.

Dangers

Dry ice bombs can explode within seconds due to the rapid sublimation of dry ice, injuring the handler. The abrupt release of high-pressure gas creates a loud noise, which can cause hearing damage even at substantial distances. Fragments thrown at high speeds can cut or puncture. Bombs that fail to go off cannot be safely approached, as they can spontaneously explode. Dry ice bombs can also be unintentionally made, especially if dry ice is left in an airtight container for extended periods of time. Injuries caused by dry ice bombs are common, with glass bottles in particular posing risks of serious injury or death. In one case, the explosive release of carbon dioxide gas ruptured the

esophagus The esophagus (American English), oesophagus (British English), or œsophagus (Œ, archaic spelling) (American and British English spelling differences#ae and oe, see spelling difference) all ; : ((o)e)(œ)sophagi or ((o)e)(œ)sophaguses), c ...

of a child, requiring emergency surgery.

Legality

Dry ice bombs are illegal in many jurisdictions. Manufacturing one or using one can lead to imprisonment. * A law in

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

that defines "destructive device" includes a list of "weapons" including " nysealed device containing dry ice (CO₂) or other chemically reactive substances assembled for the purpose of causing an explosion by a chemical reaction". * In Nebraska and other States the noise generated may violate local laws. * Arizona prohibits dry ice bombs if there is an intent to cause injury, death, or damage to the property of another, as well as their possession by "prohibited possessors" such as convicted felons and illegal immigrants. * In Utah, simple possession of a dry ice bomb or similar pressurized chemical reaction bomb is a second-degree felony."Bomb squad demonstrates dangers of homemade explosives"
KSL.com. * In Colorado, the creation of a dry ice bomb is considered illegal due to interpretation as "possession of an explosive device" * Leaving an unexploded dry ice bomb can be construed as public endangerment. * Exploding a dry ice bomb in public in Pennsylvania can result in criminal charges if it is not done on a bomb range, gun range or open area.

References

{{Reflist, 2

External links

DryIceNetwork.com – Dry ice information source

USENET pyrotechnics FAQ

Applications of carbon dioxide Improvised explosive devices

Overview

Dangers

Legality

See also

References

External links