WASHINGTON — The chemicals that exploded at a Texas plant are so unstable hat they must be kept cool or they can ignite a runaway scenario. Experts say that’s what happened when the Arkema Inc. chemical plant lost power after Harvey engulfed the area in floods. The chemicals that caught fire at the plant outside Houston were organic peroxides, a family of unstable compounds used for making a variety of products, including pharmaceuticals and construction materials. Hydrogen peroxide molecules have two carbon atoms and two oxygen atoms. When that bind breaks, the freed oxygen atoms more easily bind with other atoms, which is what is useful in making polymers, Dussault said.

Source: National Post August 31, 2017 23:03 UTC