Previous Year Question
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?
These are alternatives to hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants
These are explosives in military weapons
These are high-energy fuels for cruise missiles
These are fuels for rocket propulsion
Correct Answer: B
Detailed Solution
CL-20, HMX and LLM-105 are all high-energy explosive compounds used or potentially used in military-grade explosive formulations and weapons. Their common property is the rapid release of energy; they are not refrigerants or conventional propulsion fuels.
The chemical name of CL-20 is Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane. It is a powerful nitramine explosive whose energy density and detonation performance can exceed those of conventional military explosives such as HMX and RDX.
HMX is also known as Octogen. It is a high-velocity nitramine explosive used in missile warheads, shaped charges, nuclear-weapon components and polymer-bonded explosives.
The chemical name of LLM-105 is 2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide. It is an insensitive high explosive possessing relatively low sensitivity and high thermal stability. It is intended to provide improved explosive performance while reducing the risk of accidental initiation.