Which poisonous gas killed thousands of people in Bhopal gas tragedy?
Methyl Iso Cyanate
The question asks to identify the specific poisonous gas that caused the deaths of thousands during the infamous Bhopal gas tragedy.
Bhopal Gas Tragedy: The Poisonous Gas
The Bhopal gas tragedy, which occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, in Bhopal, India, was one of the world's worst industrial disasters. A leak of highly toxic gas from the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant resulted in the immediate deaths of thousands and long-term health effects for hundreds of thousands more.
Identifying the Specific Gas
The primary poisonous gas responsible for the catastrophe was Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC). Other chemicals were present at the plant, but the release of MIC vapor was the direct cause of the mass casualties.
- Methyl Iso Cyanate (CH₃NCO): This highly volatile and toxic gas is an intermediate chemical used in the production of pesticides. Exposure to MIC can cause severe respiratory distress, eye damage, and death.
- Methane: While potentially flammable, methane is not the gas associated with the primary toxicity of the Bhopal disaster.
- Carbide Iso Cyanate: This is not a standard chemical name; the correct term related to the tragedy is Methyl Iso Cyanate.
- Ethyl Iso Cyanate: This is a different chemical compound and was not the gas leaked during the Bhopal incident.
Details on Methyl Iso Cyanate (MIC)
Methyl Iso Cyanate is a colorless, highly volatile liquid that boils at just 39.1°C (102.4°F). Its high vapor pressure means it readily turns into a gas, especially under ambient conditions. Key properties include:
- Toxicity: Extremely toxic upon inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact.
- Reactivity: Highly reactive, especially with water, acids, and bases.
- Health Effects: Inhalation causes irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs, potentially leading to pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), respiratory failure, and death. Long-term effects can include chronic respiratory diseases and blindness.
Therefore, Methyl Iso Cyanate was the poisonous gas that tragically killed thousands in the Bhopal gas tragedy.
Important Questions from Post Independence Events
- During which significant international conflict was the first National Emergency in India declared?
India was divided into India and Pakistan by the ______ Act.
The first Five-Year Plan’s main emphasis was to improve the condition of agriculture in India. The plan began in the year_________.
Who is known as the ‘Iron man of India’?
After independence which first princely state was taken over by the Indian Army?
