Chapter 11: Forensic Aspects of Arson and Explosion Investigations
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28 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 Accelerant | Any material used to start or sustain a fire. The most common accelerants are combustible liquids. |
| Black Powder | Normally, a mixture of potassium nitrate, carbon, and sulfur in the ratio 75/15/10. |
| Combustion | Rapid combination of oxygen with another substance accompained by the production of noticeable heat and light. |
| Deflagration | A very rapid oxidation reaction accompanied by the generation of a low-intensity pressure wave that can disrupt the surroundings. |
| Detonating Cord | A cordlike explosive containg a core of high-explosive material, usually PETN; also called primacord. |
| Detonation | An extremely rapid oxidation reaction accompanied by a violent disruptive effect and an intense, high-speed shock wave. |
| Endothermic Reaction | A chemical transformation in which heat energy absorbed from the surroundings. |
| Energy | The combine ability or potential of a system or material to do work. Some forms of energy are heat energy, chemical energy, and electrical energy. |
| Exothermic Reaction | A chemical transformation in which heat energy is liberated. |
| Explosion | A chemical or mechanical action resulting in the rapid expansion of gases. |
| Flammable Range | The entire range of possible gas or vapor fuel concentrations in air that are capable of burning. |
| Flash Point | The minimum temperature at which a liquid fuel produces enough vapor to burn. |
| Glowing Combustion | Burning at the fuel-air interface. Examples are a red-hot charcoal or a burning cigarette. |
| Heat of Combustion | The heat liberated during combustion. |
| High Explosive | An explosive with a velocity of detonation greater than 1,000 meters per second. Examples include dynamite and RDX. |
| Hydrocarbon | Any compound consisting only of carbon and hydrogen. |
| Ignition Temperature | The minimum temperature at which a fuel will spontaneously ignite. |
| Low Explosive | An explosive with a velocity of detonation less than 1,000 meters per second. Examples include black powder and smokeless powder. |
| Modus Operandi | An offender's pattern of operation. |
| Oxidation | The combination of oxygen with other substances to produce new substances. |
| Oxidizing Agent | A substance that supplies oxygen to a chemical reaction. |
| Primary Explosive | A high explosive that is easily detonated by heat or shock. |
| Pyrolysis | The decomposition of organic mattery by heat. |
| Safety Fuse | A cord containing a core of black powder. It is used to carry a flame at a uniform rate to an explosive charge. |
| Secondary Explosive | A high explosive that normally must be detonated by a primary explosive. |
| Smokeless Powder ( Double-base) | An explosive consisting of a mixture of nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin. |
| Smokeless Powder (Single-base) | An explosive consisting of nitrocellulose. |
| Spontaneous Combustion | A fire caused by a natural heat-producing process in the presence of sufficient air and fuel. |
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