Question

What are the causes of the Bhopal Tragedy?

Answer 1

Hint: UCIL has developed carbaryl as an intermediate using methyl isocyanate (MIC). Although there are other strategies for manufacturing the end-product, they cost more. MIC is a compound that is highly poisonous and particularly harmful to human health.

Complete answer:
Bhopal Tragedy: The Bhopal tragedy, a 1984 chemical leak in Bhopal District, Madhya Pradesh State, India. It was named the worst industrial accident in history at the time. Warren Anderson, whose plant was the source of the toxic Methyl Isocyanate gas, is the man the victims blame for the disaster.

Cause of the Bhopal Tragedy-
A. The chemical reaction began at around midnight at the Union Carbide (India) Limited plant, resulting in the leakage of deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from one of the factory's tanks.
B. Approximately 45 tonnes of the toxic gas methyl isocyanate escaped from an insecticide plant operated by the Indian subsidiary of the American firm Union Carbide Corporation on December 3, 1984.
C. As tens of thousands of others attempted to escape Bhopal, the gas spread over the heavily populated communities around the factory, killing thousands of people immediately and causing a panic. It was estimated that the final death toll was between 15,000 and 20,000.
D. The chemical reaction began at around midnight at the Union Carbide (India) Limited plant, resulting in the leakage of deadly methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from one of the factory's tanks.
E. The tragedy occurred when water entered a methyl isocyanate-containing tank. This triggered a chemical reaction that, among other things, resulted in the build-up of a lot of carbon dioxide. The resulting response increased the temperature to reach over 200 ° C (392 ° F) inside the tank.

Note: Methyl isocyanate is an extremely toxic gas that can cause death within minutes of inhaling the gas if its concentration in the air exceeds 21ppm (parts per million). The Government of India enacted a Public Liability Insurance Act (1991) after the catastrophe, making it mandatory for industries to procure insurance that the premium for this insurance must contribute to an Environment Relief Fund to provide coverage to victims of a Bhopal-like disaster. It was a case of absolute liability.