The gas leaked from a storage tank of the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal gas tragedy was:
The Bhopal gas tragedy occurred in 1984 due to a catastrophic leak of a highly toxic gas from a pesticide plant. The specific chemical stored in large quantities was methyl isocyanate (MIC), an extremely hazardous and volatile compound used in pesticide production. When water entered the MIC storage tank, it triggered an exothermic reaction, causing a massive release of the toxic gas into the atmosphere, resulting in a devastating human and environmental disaster.
Final Answer: Methylisocyanate
The Bhopal gas tragedy was one of the world's worst industrial disasters. It occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984, at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant in Bhopal, India.
The disaster was caused by a massive leak of a highly toxic gas from a storage tank. This gas was Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), with the chemical formula .
Methyl isocyanate is an extremely hazardous, volatile, and flammable liquid. When it leaked, it turned into a deadly gas that spread over the city. Exposure to MIC causes severe damage to the eyes, lungs, and other organs, leading to thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries.
The other options are incorrect:
This question connects to the study of industrial chemistry and the properties of specific compounds. Methyl isocyanate is an intermediate chemical used in the production of pesticides like carbaryl. Its high reactivity and toxicity make its handling and storage a critical aspect of industrial safety protocols. Understanding the real-world consequences of chemical accidents highlights the importance of safety measures and regulations in the chemical industry.
While this is a memory-based fact, the chemical formulae are essential for identification: