PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
WBPSC Miscellaneous Preliminary 2023
Answer
Methyl Isocyanate
Explanation
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, considered one of the world's worst industrial disasters, occurred on the night of December 2-3, 1984. It was caused by the massive leak of highly toxic Methyl Isocyanate (MIC) gas from the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, leading to thousands of deaths.
Key Points
- > Gas leaked: Methyl Isocyanate (MIC).
- > Chemical Formula: \\( CH_3NCO \\).
- > Date of disaster: December 2-3, 1984.
- > Company involved: Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL).
- > The plant was manufacturing the pesticide carbaryl (brand name Sevin).
- > Spurred the creation of the Environment Protection Act, 1986 in India.
Additional Information
- >## Major Gas/Chemical Disasters| Disaster | Year | Location | Chemical Involved | |---|---|---|---| | Bhopal Tragedy | 1984 | India | Methyl Isocyanate | | Vizag Gas Leak | 2020 | India | Styrene Gas | | Seveso Disaster | 1976 | Italy | Dioxin (TCDD) |### Memory Tips - Remember the acronym **MIC** (Methyl IsoCyanate). Be careful not to confuse it with Cyanide
- > it's Iso**Cyanate**.