Editing Explosive (section)

{{short description|Substance that can explode}}
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{{for-multi|the American band|The Explosives|the song by Dr. Dre|Xxplosive|other uses}}
[[File:17. Експлозивни својства на три различни типови експлозиви.webm|thumb|right|upright=1.3|Demonstration of the explosive properties of three different explosives; four explosions are demonstrated. Three are conducted on a solid marble base, and one is conducted on the demonstrator's hand; each is initiated by a match.]]

An '''explosive''' (or '''explosive material''') is a reactive substance that contains a great amount of [[potential energy]] that can produce an [[explosion]] if released suddenly, usually accompanied by the production of [[light]], [[heat]], [[sound]], and [[pressure]]. An '''explosive charge''' is a measured quantity of explosive material, which may either be composed solely of one ingredient or be a mixture containing at least two substances.

The potential energy stored in an explosive material may, for example, be:
* [[chemical energy]], such as [[nitroglycerin]] or [[Dust explosion|grain dust]]
* [[pressure|pressurized]] [[gas compressor|gas]], such as a [[gas cylinder]], [[aerosol can]], or [[boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion]]
* [[nuclear weapon|nuclear]] energy, such as in the [[fissile]] [[isotope]]s [[uranium-235]] and [[plutonium-239]]

Explosive materials may be categorized by the speed at which they expand. Materials that [[detonate]] (the front of the chemical reaction moves faster through the material than the [[speed of sound]]) are said to be "high explosives" and materials that [[deflagrate]] are said to be "low explosives". Explosives may also be categorized by their [[sensitivity (explosives)|sensitivity]]. Sensitive materials that can be initiated by a relatively small amount of heat or pressure are [[primary explosive]]s, and materials that are relatively insensitive are [[secondary explosives|secondary]] or [[tertiary explosive]]s.

A wide variety of chemicals can explode; a smaller number are manufactured specifically for the purpose of being used as explosives. The remainder are too dangerous, sensitive, toxic, expensive, unstable, or prone to decomposition or degradation over short time spans.

In contrast, some materials are merely [[combustible]] or [[flammable]] if they burn without exploding. The distinction, however, is not always clear. Certain materials—dusts, powders, gases, or volatile organic liquids—may be simply combustible or flammable under ordinary conditions, but become explosive in specific situations or forms, such as [[dust explosion|dispersed airborne clouds]], or [[Gas explosion|confinement or sudden release]].