What is the common characteristic of the chemical substances generally known as CL-20, HMX and LLM-105, which are sometimes talked about in media?
- A.These are alternatives to hydro-fluorocarbon refrigerants
- B.These are explosives in military weapons
- C.These are high-energy fuels for cruise missiles
- D.These are fuels for rocket propulsion
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, These are explosives in military weapons. CL-20, HMX and LLM-105 are all powerful high explosives used in warheads, shells and military charges.
HMX, also called octogen, is a nitramine explosive more powerful than RDX and is used in missile warheads and shaped charges. CL-20 (hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane) is one of the most energetic conventional explosives known, giving more blast for the same size of charge. LLM-105 is an insensitive high explosive: it is hard to set off by shock, heat or impact by accident, which makes munitions safer to store and handle. Research on such high-energy materials in India is carried out by DRDO laboratories such as the High Energy Materials Research Laboratory in Pune.
A is wrong: HFC substitutes are refrigerants such as hydrofluoro-olefins, not these compounds.
C is wrong: cruise missiles run on jet fuels in air-breathing engines, not on these explosives.
D is wrong: rocket propellants are fuel-oxidiser mixtures designed to burn steadily, while these compounds are meant to detonate.
Exam tip: HMX, RDX, CL-20, TNT = high explosives; LLM-105 = insensitive munition; HEMRL Pune is DRDO's lab for them.
Practice Questions
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