Burns from balloons exploded - explaining phenomena

Recently, scientists had accurate explanations for the phenomenon of balloons exploding, injuring many users.

Recently, public opinion is stirring about the incident that many victims suffered burns for a reason no one thought about - that is . balloons exploded. It sounds like a joke, but this is completely true.

• Why does the balloon explode?

The beams of harmless balloons but in special conditions suddenly exploded. The explosion of balloons is as loud as a gas explosion, causing burns to victims in dangerous areas such as head, neck, arms . So what makes the colored balloons cause burns, let's go find the answer behind this strange phenomenon through the article below.

From rare accidents worth noting .

According to the media reports, on the evening of January 16, 2013, the family of PMĐ (40 years old) in Long Bien, Hanoi, after going to the wedding, brought about 30 balls of balloons to the children to play.

When he came home, a grandson of Mr. D. asked for the ball to play. So, Mr. Đ. Use lighters to burn ball ties to divide the ball to the children. After the first ball is safely removed, the second ball suddenly explodes, dragging the beam of more than 30 balloons to explode at the same time, causing a very loud sound that his family thinks to explode a gas tank. in kitchen.

Consequently, Mr. D. and 4 children standing near the ball are all burned. His child's jacket was bursted by explosions, the cotton in his shirt flew out and the others were caught by fire all over his head, face, hands and clothes.

On the morning of January 17, three victims who were photographed with balloons were hospitalized for burns. According to the victim's story, while 2 wedding photographers instructed the bride to pose with the balloons, the whole bunch of balls suddenly exploded. As a result, two employees suffered severe burns, while the bride suffered minor injuries on her face.

. to the scientific explanation of strange explosion .

Both of these incidents sparked a wave of fears, bewildered about why the harmless beams exploded and caused such great injuries.

Let's start the hunt for the cause of the phenomenon of balloons exploded by turning back the history of the world famous Hindenburg balloon disaster 77 years ago. At that time, the giant balloon - the symbol of the Nazi empire under Adolf Hitler caught fire in the air and exploded just before landing on the ground.

Pictures of Hindenburg balloon historical disaster caught fire.

Currently, the cause of this tragedy has not been firmly established, but the hypothesis that most people recognize is due to hydrogen gas leakage on the balloon. Accordingly, hydrogen is a light gas that should be used as a fuel for balloon operation. But because they leak, they escape, reacting with oxygen under catalysts of temperature or electricity from thunderstorms.

This reaction in the ratio of molar to hydrogen and oxygen is 2: 1 will cause explosion. In room conditions (pressure of 1atm and about 27.3 degrees C), this reaction causes the gas pressure after reaction to increase nearly 3.5 times. That's why the power of hydrogen gas explosions is enormous.

Back to the past two incidents, the common point of the Hindenburg balloon balloon is that they are pumped together with hydrogen gas. Balloons fly hydrogen lighter than air, so it is easy to fly, unlike balloons blowing CO ₂ balls that can only lie on the ground.

When the effects of fire, whether small such as lighters, cigarette butts, balloons expand excessively, the internal air pressure increases causing the balloons to explode. When the ball explodes, hydrogen can act with oxygen to cause explosion as described above. The destructive power of a ball exploding may not be large, but when the beam bursts at once, the consequences will be incalculable.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Le Phi Hung, Officer of the Fire Protection Police Department (Hanoi City Police), the same explosion phenomenon can occur with air-inflated balloons, or letting hydrogen balloons fly outside. sunny, close to heat sources such as indoor filament lamps .

Interim: We all need to be very careful with such unfortunate accidents. Consider choosing bright beams for children to play and equipping their loved ones with the necessary safety knowledge for this popular toy.