Napalm

F100 Napalm

French indochina napalm 1953-12 1

US riverboat using napalm in Vietnam

The Terror of War

Napalm is a flammable liquid used in warfare. It is a mixture of a gelling agent and either petroleum or a similar fuel. When ignited, napalm sticks to surfaces and burns at a high temperature. Its name is derived from the components used to make it: naphthenic acid and palmitic acid.

History

Napalm was developed in 1942, in a secret laboratory at Harvard University by a team led by chemist Louis Fieser. Its first combat use was in the European Theater of World War II by the United States. It became infamous during the Vietnam War, where it was used extensively by the US military, leading to significant civilian casualties and widespread criticism.

Composition and Effects

The original formulation of napalm involved the combination of naphthenic and palmitic acids with aluminum salts of the acids. This mixture was then combined with gasoline to create a sticky, incendiary gel. Modern versions of napalm, such as Napalm-B, use polystyrene, benzene, and gasoline, creating a mixture that is more stable and burns more intensely.

Napalm burns at temperatures of 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius (1,472 to 2,192 degrees Fahrenheit). It sticks to almost anything it contacts, including skin, making it extremely difficult to extinguish. The effects on human beings are devastating, causing severe burns and often death.

Legal and Ethical Issues

The use of napalm against civilian populations has been a subject of controversy and has led to calls for its ban. In 1980, the United Nations adopted Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which restricts the use of incendiary weapons like napalm against civilian populations and in air attacks against military forces in civilian areas. However, not all countries have ratified this protocol.

In Popular Culture

Napalm has been depicted in various films, books, and songs, often highlighting its destructive nature and the human suffering it causes. One of the most famous references is the line "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" from the film Apocalypse Now, which reflects the controversial nature of its use in warfare.

See Also

• Incendiary weapon
• Chemical warfare
• Vietnam War
• Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons