UPSC Prelims 2025 · Question 6 of 100

UPSC Prelims 2025 question on CL 20 HMX Explosives

What is the common characteristic of the chemical substances generally known as CL-20, HMX and LLM-105, which are sometimes talked about in media?

  1. These are alternatives to hydro-fluorocarbon refrigerants
  2. These are explosives in military weapons
  3. These are high-energy fuels for cruise missiles
  4. These are fuels for rocket propulsion
Show answer

Answer: B. These are explosives in military weapons

Verdict

All three are explosives in military weapons → Option (b).

Analysis

CL-20, HMX, and LLM-105 are all high-energy explosives, primarily used in military and defense applications.

CL-20 (Hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane) is one of the most powerful non-nuclear explosives known to science, developed in the 1980s by the U.S. Navy. It belongs to a class of cage-structured nitramines.

HMX (High Melting Explosive or Octogen) is a widely used nitroamine explosive known for its high detonation velocity and pressure. It is frequently used in military-grade plastic explosives, rocket propellants, and shaped charges.

LLM-105 (2,6-diamino-3,5-dinitropyrazine-1-oxide) is a newer class of energetic material classified as an 'insensitive high explosive,' meaning it has low sensitivity to shock, heat, or friction, making it safer for transport and handling.

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