• Question: would a spark from a gun be enough to blow up a room filled with methane

    Asked by 454brna35 to Ciarán on 12 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: Ciarán O'Brien

      Ciarán O'Brien answered on 12 Nov 2014:


      Oh yes, easily. Methane is a volatile chemical, which means it it’s very, very happy to take part in chemical reactions. A spark much smaller than what you get from a gun would be enough to cause the methane next to it to combust (combine with oxygen, generating heat and light), and the heat from that reaction would set off all the methane next to every other methane molecule, and WHOOMPH, fiery explosion! Bye bye room!

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