When styrofoam (extruded polystyrene) is combined with gasoline, it degrades. As a result, the mess becomes moist and gooey as all of the air inside escapes. Without the air, leaving it out to dry will make it harder again, but not as hard as before.
What is the use of Styrofoam in Molotov cocktails?
Molotov cocktails manufactured with “one part liquid laundry detergent, two parts gas” were used by US Marines during the Second Battle of Fallujah in 2004 to clear residences “when contact is made in a house and the enemy must be burned out.” The strategy “was created in reaction to the enemy’s guerilla warfare techniques,” particularly martyrdom tactics, which frequently resulted in US Marine losses. The cocktail was a less convenient option to white phosphorus mortar rounds or C4-detonated propane tanks (dubbed the “House Guest”), all of which were efficient in burning out engaged enemy fighters.
During the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry advised civilians to fight Russian forces by making Molotov cocktails, often known as “Bandera smoothies.” Through Ukrainian television, the military ministry provided a recipe for making Molotov cocktails to people, which included the use of styrofoam as a thickening agent to help the blazing liquid attach to automobiles or other objects. “3 cups polystyrene, 2 cups grated soap, 500 millilitres gasoline, 100 millilitres oil, 1 jumbo tampon fuse,” according to the Pravda Brewery in Lviv, which shifted from making beer to Molotov cocktails. The Russian media watchdog Roskomnadzor sued Twitter for failing to remove instructions on how to make and use molotov cocktails, and the company was fined 3 million rubles (USD 41,000).
What is it that will melt Styrofoam?
The solubility of polystyrene in an organic solvent is demonstrated by dissolving Styrofoam or another polystyrene product in acetone. It also shows how much air there is in the Styrofoam. Simply pour a small amount of acetone into a dish and fill it with Styrofoam beads, packing peanuts, foam pieces, or even a Styrofoam cup. In the same way as sugar dissolves in hot water, Styrofoam will dissolve in acetone. Due to the fact that Styrofoam is mainly air, you might be surprised at how much (or how little) foam dissolves in acetone. An full bean bag’s worth of styrofoam beads can be dissolved with a cup of acetone.
What does Napalm’s chemical formula look like?
Fallbrook napalm is one of several varieties of napalm. It’s made up of 46 parts polystyrene (a styrene polymer with the formula C6H6CH2=CH2, a short chain of which is shown below), 33 parts gasoline, and 21 parts benzene.
What happens when acetone and Styrofoam are combined?
Wear safety eyewear and gloves when performing the experiment in a fume hood or a well-ventilated room. In the same manner as sugar dissolves in water, styrofoam dissolves in acetone. It’s a physical reaction, not a chemical one. The air in the foam leaves, and because Styrofoam is mostly air, it entirely loses its structure when dissolved in acetone. The acetone breaks up the long chain of molecules, and the air vanishes, drastically reducing the volume.
Is it possible to make a Molotov cocktail out of vodka?
Alcohol burns good, but it must be quite strong. Although vodka can be used, it is preferable to use something stronger.
Gasoline burns hot, but only for a short time. As a result, the Finns, for example, combined it with roofing tar, which functioned as a thickening. Molotov cocktails, as a result, burnt for a long period and clung to targets.
Another approach is to make a 1:1 mixture of acetone and gasoline. However, you must first dissolve the styrofoam in 100 grams of acetone to achieve the viscosity of a thick syrup. Make sure you have plenty of styrofoam on hand because you may need it more than you think. A mixture of gasoline and acetone dissolves some varieties of styrofoam better.
Is it possible to destroy a contemporary tank with a Molotov cocktail?
Can a Molotov cocktail be used to destroy tanks in modern warfare? Even grenades scarcely affect modern tanks, therefore the incendiary is unlikely to destroy them. The cocktails, on the other hand, can be thrown at the tanks to render them useless for a brief time.