[ntg88]

So my world geography teacher told us the other day that other countries can fly planes over the US and drop a chemical on us that takes out all of our electricity. I looked on line but found nothing. I know maybe an EMP could but she said a chemical. I don't think this is possible but I thought Id ask here. Thanks in advance!

BTW please cite your sources

[Aeon]

Hmmm... Interesting.

The only situation I can think of is dropping an unimaginably large amount of corn starch in the reservoir of a hydroelectric dam: that would surely halt electricity production .

But other than that, she most probably was referring to a nuclear warhead detonating in the upper atmosphere, causing an EMP like you mentioned. There is obviously chemistry involved in the design of a nuclear bomb.

[Borek]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite_bomb

[Aeon]

Ah!

But I considered that every electrical line WAS insulated...

Graphite bombs only work on power lines that are not insulated.

I didn't know that high-voltage lines weren't insulated by anything other than air! Good to know.