Dry ice bomb

Dry ice bomb exploding in water.

A dry ice bomb is a simple explosive

device. While its simplicity, ease of
construction, high bursting pressure and
sound make it appealing for recreational
purposes, it can be unpredictable and
dangerous, and it has led to many injuries.
Dry ice bombs are illegal in many
jurisdictions.

Overview
Dry ice bombs are commonly made from a
container such as a plastic bottle, water
and dry ice. The bottle is filled about one
quarter full of water. Chunks of dry ice are
added and the container is shut tightly. As
the solid carbon dioxide warms, it
sublimates to gas. With limited room for
the gas to expand, the pressure in the
bottle increases. Bombs typically rupture
within 30 seconds to 30 minutes,
dependent largely on the temperature of
the air outside the bottle.[1] A dry ice bomb
may develop frost on its exterior prior to
explosion.[1] After explosion, it appears to
have shattered, with the overall shape of
the device intact.[1]

Dangers
Dry ice bombs may induce serious risks:

Explosion can occur within seconds,

injuring the handler.
The shockwave can be extremely loud,
causing hearing damage even at
substantial distances.
 The blast can propel fragments of the
container at very high speeds, causing
cuts and puncture wounds.

Injuries are common, with glass bottles in

particular posing risks of serious injury or
death.[2][3][4][5]

Bombs that fail to explode pose a major

safety problem: They cannot be left, yet
cannot be safely approached.

Legality
The examples and perspective in this article deal
primarily with the United States and do Learn
not more
Dry ice bombs are illegal in many
jurisdictions,[6][7] and can lead to
imprisonment.[8]

A law in California that defines

"destructive device" includes a list of
"weapons" including "[any] sealed device
containing dry ice (CO2) or other
chemically reactive substances
assembled for the purpose of causing
an explosion by a chemical
reaction".[9][10]
In Nebraska[11] and in other areas 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,[12] as
well as their possession by "prohibited
possessors" such as convicted felons
and illegal immigrants.[13]
In Utah simple possession of a dry ice
bomb or similar pressurized chemical
reaction bombs is a second-degree
felony.[14]
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 the state of
Pennsylvania in public can result in
criminal charges, as it was not done in
an open area such as a bomb range or
gun range.

In popular culture
A dry ice bomb was featured on
MythBusters, in episode 57 Mentos and
Soda, which was first aired on August 9,
2006, and again in the "Do Try This At
Home" Special, which also
demonstrated bending of a metal frame
and serious damage to dummy
rubber/bone forearms.
An episode of Discovery channel's Time
Warp features several dry ice bombs
filmed on high speed camera; one on a
tabletop and three in a metal tank with a
transparent front. The cast believed that
once one of the three bombs exploded,
it would blow up the other two bombs;
the first bomb exploded, rupturing the
tank without exploding the other two 2-
liter bottle bombs, and the cast and
crew had to run and seek cover.
In the game Nine Hours, Nine Persons,
Nine Doors, the main characters use a
dry ice bomb to escape a freezer.
 A dry ice bomb was used by the main
characters in Archer, in S02E04 in an
attempt to deter an alligator but instead
almost causing an accident.

See also
Spud gun
Diet Coke and Mentos eruption
Chlorine bomb
Rapid phase transition

References
1. Jill Meryl Levy (2006). The First
Responder's Field Guide to Hazmat
and Terrorism Emergency Response .
Firebelle Productions. pp. 8–10.
2. "NewsLibrary Search Results" .
3. "NewsLibrary Search Results" .
4. "Glass shrapnel injuries to children
resulting from...[J Pediatr Surg. 1990] -
PubMed Result" . Ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
2009-07-01. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
5. "Toxicological Reviews — userLogin" .
Pt.wkhealth.com. Retrieved
2009-09-20.
6. "Charlotte: Search Results" . 2006-10-
24.
7. "> News > North County — Neighbors'
long quarrel erupted" .
SignOnSanDiego.com. 2002-09-05.
Retrieved 2009-09-20.
 8. "Dry-ice bomb prank ends in jail" . The
Press. May 2, 2008. Retrieved
September 29, 2011.
9. although dry-ice bombs rely upon the
principle of phase-change, not
chemical reaction
10. "CA Codes (pen:12301-12316)" .
Leginfo.ca.gov. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
11. "State of Nebraska" (PDF). Retrieved
2009-09-20.
12. "13-3102 – Misconduct involving
weapons" . Azleg.state.az.us.
Retrieved 2009-11-10.
13. "13-3101 – Definitions" .
Azleg.state.az.us. Retrieved
 2009-09-20.
14. "Bomb squad demonstrates dangers
of homemade explosives" , KSL.com.

External links
DryIceNetwork.com – Dry ice
information source
USENET pyrotechnics FAQ
Mad Physics :: Dry Ice Explosions

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title=Dry_ice_bomb&oldid=892763814"

Last edited 27 days ago by Entrance…

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