What happens during a BLEVE?

A BLEVE, or Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion, occurs when a liquid that is under pressure begins to boil and vaporize rapidly, often due to a decrease in pressure or an increase in temperature. This rapid phase change from liquid to gas results in an explosive expansion of the vaporized liquid. The explosion can happen when a pressurized vessel, such as a tank containing a flammable liquid, experiences a failure or is exposed to fire, leading to an increase in pressure that eventually causes the vessel to rupture.

During a BLEVE, the boiling liquid turns into gas much faster than the surrounding environment can cool it down or steady the pressure inside the vessel. The sudden release of high-pressure vapor creates a shock wave and can indeed cause significant destruction, along with the potential ignition of flammable materials due to the high temperature of the vapor. This phenomenon highlights the dangers associated with pressurized liquids and their transition to gas.

The other options do not accurately describe the BLEVE process. A rapid solidification, gas condensation into liquid, or solid dissolution in a solvent do not encapsulate the violent and expansive nature of a BLEVE event. Understanding this process is crucial in fields related to chemistry, physics, and safety engineering.