USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Many variations of the chemicals used in napalm exist. The most common current composition includes aluminum salts, polystyrene, and benzene. Detonation then occurs by various explosive compounds that ignite phosphorous, which burns at a temperature adequate to ignite the fuel mixture.

Detailed explanation-2: -Napalm is a specific type of incendiary, a “thickened oil incendiary agent” whose composition and name changed over time (i.e. napalm, napalm B and MK77) and was rapidly recognized as a highly efficient incendiary weapon for three reasons.

Detailed explanation-3: -Initially, the military used sodium palmitrate as its thickening agent (hence the name, Na-palm); more modern napalm employs polystyrene plastic beads as a thickener. Napalm has been used both as a conventional incendiary weapon-attacking flammable military and civilian targets-and as a defoliant in the Vietnam war.

Detailed explanation-4: -Napalm, also called a firebomb fuel gel mixture, has a gel-like consistency, allowing it to stick to targets. Napalm is often used in combination with gasoline or jet fuel to make a bomb with a thin outer shell that easily explodes and ignites upon impact with a target.