Palatine police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 1:17 PM Sunday to a report of a “Bleach Bomb” off of the back patio of an apartment in the 1100 block of East Randville. Firefighters on the scene reported at least on device that appeared to be under pressure. The Cook County Bomb Squad was called for what appeared to be a chemical bomb ina plastic container. Multiple devices were discovered , and one possible went off before the bomb squad.
No reports of any injuries. Drano bombs or MacGyver bombs are commonly left on the ground by pranksters or people who intend to do harm. A chemical reaction of aluminum foil and the Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) source, such as Drano drain cleaner or toilet cleaner.
Homemade chemical bombs are typically made with toilet bowl cleaner or drain cleaner and aluminum foil in a capped plastic bottle, such as a plastic pop bottle. Shaking the contents in a capped bottle accelerates the reaction of the aluminum foil with the chemical of the cleaner, which causes a heat or exothermic reaction and pressurizes the interior of the bottle until it explodes. The speed of the chemical reaction is unpredictable, so a person can be injured while shaking the bottle if the reaction goes fast. Serious personal injuries are possible: chemical burns to the eyes, blindness, chemical burns of the skin (causing scarring), small blast injury to the skin, projectile injury from broken pieces of the bottle or the bottle cap. Chlorine gas can also be released, which can cause respiratory irritation.
It’s usually a good idea to leave a plastic bottle containing strange liquid alone, and call 9-1-1.
No reports of any injuries Sunday. Palatine police are investigating.
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