napalm

Napalm is a wartime incendiary substance made by thickening gasoline with chemical agents so it sticks to surfaces more easily. Developed during World War II, it burns very intensely and is hard to put out. You can think of it as fuel turned into a sticky burning gel.

The name comes from parts of the words *naphthenic and palm*itic acids, which were used in the original formula. It was used in flamethrowers and bombs, and it became especially well known during the Vietnam War because of the severe damage it caused. Today, the word often suggests the destructive side of modern war.

Napalm is a highly flammable liquid used primarily as an incendiary weapon—meaning it is designed to start fires and destroy equipment. It is not a single substance, but rather a mixture: typically gasoline combined with aluminum soaps (such as aluminum naphthenate and aluminum palmitate). These chemicals thicken the gasoline into a gel-like consistency. This thickening is crucial because it allows the fuel to cling to surfaces—skin, buildings, and vegetation—and burn for an extended period.

The resulting fires are incredibly intense, reaching extremely high temperatures, and are notoriously difficult to put out with water alone. The sticky nature of napalm means it adheres strongly to whatever it touches, causing horrific burns that penetrate deep into muscle and bone.

Napalm gained notoriety during World War II but became especially associated with the Vietnam War. Its use against military targets and in areas where civilians were present led to widespread condemnation because of its destructive power and the extreme suffering it caused. Images of napalm attacks became symbols of the brutality of war. Because of these concerns, international rules, including Protocol III of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, restrict the use of incendiary weapons in ways that can harm civilian populations. Today, the word "napalm" suggests not only a chemical mixture but also the devastating human cost of warfare.