<P> A chemical explosive is a compound or mixture which, upon the application of heat or shock, decomposes or rearranges with extreme rapidity, yielding much gas and heat . Many substances not ordinarily classed as explosives may do one, or even two, of these things . For example, at high temperatures (> 2000 ° C) a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen can be made to react rapidly and yield the gaseous product nitric oxide; yet the mixture is not an explosive since it does not evolve heat, but rather absorbs heat . </P> <Dl> <Dd> N + O → 2 NO − 43,200 calories (or 180 kJ) per mole of N </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> N + O → 2 NO − 43,200 calories (or 180 kJ) per mole of N </Dd> <P> For a chemical to be an explosive, it must exhibit all of the following: </P>

When is a chemical or solution considered an explosive