Forensic Chemistry: Explosives Classification (Low, High, Primary, Secondary)

UGC-NET Forensic Science Unit VI drill covering the classification of explosives and their forensic significance. The mock spans deflagrating (low) versus detonating (high) explosives distinguished by their rate of pressure rise, with black powder as the canonical low explosive and RDX or PETN as canonical high explosives. Questions address the three-tier hierarchy of primary, secondary, and tertiary explosives: primary explosives (lead azide, mercury fulminate, lead styphnate) are shock-sensitive initiators used in detonators and primers; secondary explosives (TNT, RDX, HMX, PETN, Composition B, C-4) require a primary shock to detonate and carry the main destructive energy; tertiary or blasting agents (ANFO, emulsion explosives, slurries) are insensitive bulk explosives used in commercial quarrying and mining.

Improvised explosive chemistry is covered through black powder (75%% potassium nitrate, 15%% charcoal, 10%% sulfur), smokeless powder (single-base nitrocellulose, double-base with nitroglycerin), TATP (triacetone triperoxide, a primary peroxide explosive used in homemade detonators), urea nitrate, and picric acid. The Indian regulatory framework is tested in the final section: the Explosives Act 1884, the Explosive Substances Act 1908 (criminal liability for unlawful possession and causing explosions), the Explosives Rules 2008 made under the 1884 Act, and the licensing regime administered by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

This mock is aimed at UGC-NET Paper II candidates, NFSU MSc (Forensic Science) aspirants, and FACT exam takers who need a solid grounding in explosive chemistry before moving to advanced analytical methods. All 30 questions are calibrated at easy level, meaning correct recall of definitions, categories, and standard regulatory provisions is sufficient to score well.

Topics covered:

• Low (deflagrating) versus high (detonating) explosives and burn rate
• Primary explosives: lead azide, mercury fulminate, lead styphnate
• Secondary explosives: TNT, RDX, HMX, PETN, Composition B, C-4
• Tertiary explosives and blasting agents: ANFO, emulsions, slurries
• Improvised explosives: black powder, TATP, urea nitrate, picric acid
• Explosives Act 1884 and Explosive Substances Act 1908
• Explosives Rules 2008 and PESO licensing framework
• Velocity of detonation as a distinguishing parameter

Allow 30 minutes.