Anatomy of an Explosion

By Ken Boateng (Serwah '85)

This may not be the worst disaster you have heard about, but it is one that brings back the memories of the ol' days at Prempeh College. Memories fade very fast, but I can't believe how I still cherish those teachers and friends who made impact on our lives: those who made us happy, and those who made us run in our shoes at the mere sight of them. We still have memories of those great teachers; those who taught us all; those who made us weed their backyards and the school orchard, and even those who made us scrub urinals and "shanks" for reading after lights-out.

The story is not just about an "H2-bomb" in a classroom, but rather to bring back our memories (especially members of Form 3D in 1980).

It all happened one fine afternoon in a general science class in the junior physics lab (Lecture Theatre). Our new general science teacher, Mr Nyame, had been very impressive, working us thoroughly towards understanding the basics of science. For him, science was not just mere memorizing of formulas from textbooks, but also understanding how things happen.

The class pace was normal. On this fine afternoon only the regular "free-sawyers" or "town-goers" had skipped class. "Joe Atiso", the physics lab assistant was absent, probably enjoying some kenkey at his home near the "borough-highway". Science couldn't be this fun. That afternoon, Mr Nyame had started us with the properties of hydrogen:

it's a very light gas;
it gives a characteristic "pop" sound in the presence of a glowing splinter, and most important,
it burns in air to produce water,
but its very explosive.

I don't remember whether "Avoga" ever taught so much chemistry. This stuff was very fascinating.

The experiment began with the preparation of Hydrogen gas. He poured some HCl on zinc filings in a conical flask, and within seconds, some bubbles evolved.

"Lets see what this gas is supposed to be". He connected the whole glassware apparatus, the conical flask in this case, to a long rubber tubing, then using his thumb, he trapped some gas in a test tube. He tested the gas with a match, and then it went "pop". Smiles on our faces. There you go, the gas is hydrogen. I couldn't believe my eyes. That was probably the second time I ever saw a chemical reaction take place. This also means "property #2" has been satisfied (it gives a "pop" sound..).

The next step would be to test "property #3", which is to BURN some gas in air to produce water. I started to doubt its feasibility. Its certainly not the "smartest" way to obtain water in the lab; we need water, we run the tap.

"We don't need to test this right now, we'll probably miss our lunch. It's already lunch time."

"No Fears". This time he needed a fine tube to connect to the end of the long rubber tubing in order to slow down the flowrate of gas. He got one quickly--someone offered his pen. "We've got to be out of here, its already lunch time."

So now with the pen tube connected to the long tubing which was connected to the conical flask, he lighted a match, hopefully to burn the gas and produce water right there.

He had forgotten about the last property: "Hydrogen is very EXPLOSIVE". Suddenly, it went "booooooooom", with pieces of glassware flying all over. People are seeking cover behind tables, chairs and benches. Nobody was hurt, except Mr Nyame with minor cuts from flying glassware and acid spill in his clothes.

Well, we left the room as if in a funeral procession. On top of everything, I never saw my lunch at the D-Hall. One Senior has taken possession of my food; he had a double meal.

That is the story of the "H2-bomb". Till today, I remember this accident. Had it been on a large scale, that would have been a real bomb. But, for real, Mr Nyame never realized he made a bomb--it must be documented in Amanfoo achives.

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