[danieltillett]

The science background expected is pretty high. Some things are hard to understand without the background, but in this case it is pretty easy. Explosive chemicals have bonds between the atoms that are under a lot of stress (think of it like a wound up elastic band). An explosion occurs when the stressed bond breaks (the elastic band is let go). A chemical like the one discussed has several bonds that are under massive stress (i.e the elastic band is huge and wound very tight). All it takes is the slightest bump or even a dirty look and the whole thing goes boom!

[nathannecro]

That's actually very incorrect.

Bond breakage is ALWAYS endothermic. http://books.google.com/books?id=ZOm8L9oCwLMC&pg=PA202&lpg=P...

Edit: Sorry, I hate leaving one-sentence rebuttals.

The energy required to break the bonds are so low that in comparison, the energy released when the products of the reaction are formed is very high. This giant disparity in energy released at the same time creates a sharp increase of heat and light (boom).

Also, your company is pretty neat. Any way for me to directly contact you?

[danieltillett]

Of course what I am explaining is incorrect, but I am trying to give the GP an idea of what is going on. Using my elastic band analogy, releasing the band requires energy (it is endothermic), but it get across the idea that there is a great deal of potential energy stored that is released once the band is released (i.e. a small amount of energy put into breaking a very weak bond will, after all the chemical rearrangements, release a lot of energy).

Sure if you want to get in contact with me just write to any of the contact emails on my companies website - it will get to me in the end :)