Napalm
Napalm is a gasoline-based flammable substance used in warfare.
During World War I both the Allies and Germany used gasoline as a weapon in flamethrowers but gasoline burns itself too quickly to be effective as an incendiary weapon.
Napalm was invented at Harvard University in 1942 for use in bombs and flamethrowers. The chemical reaction is moderated by a powder of naphthene and palmitate (thus napalm), forming a soap-like substance. The relative amount of powder changes the burning properties, and is varied for flamethrowers and bombs.
An improved incendiary gel, napalm-B, was introduced to make napalm less hazardous to handle and more precise and controllable in burning. Napalm-B contains neither of the original elements from which its name was derived, but uses benzene and polystyrene to solidify the gasoline. It was known for the particular smell it made while burning.
Napalm has become a generic term for incendiary fuel.
Napalm was used during World War II by the Allied Forces against cities in Japan and in bombs and flamethrowers in Germany. It was used by United Nations forces in Korea, and later by the United States during the Vietnam War.
The use of napalm and other incendiaries against civilian populations was banned by a United Nations convention in 1980 [1]. The United States didn't sign the agreement but claimed to have destroyed its arsenal in 2001.
The United States has reportedly been using napalm in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. [1] In August 03 the Pentagon stopped denying the charge, admitting it did use "Mark 77 firebombs".
A generic form of napalm can be produced with gasoline and polystyrene.
Background
Composition
Usage in Warfare
These bombs contain a substance "remarkably similar" to napalm. This substance is made with kerosene and polystyrene. [1]