What does the term 'sensitivity' refer to in relation to explosives?

The term 'sensitivity' in relation to explosives primarily refers to the likelihood of initiating a reaction due to external forces. This encompasses how easily an explosive can be triggered by various stimuli such as heat, shock, or friction. Understanding sensitivity is crucial for safe handling, storage, and transportation of explosive materials because it helps determine the conditions under which an explosive could accidentally detonate.

For example, an explosive with high sensitivity may detonate from a slight impact, while one with low sensitivity may require a more forceful impact or specific conditions to initiate a reaction. This distinction is critical for military and safety protocols since it informs personnel about safe limits and necessary precautions when dealing with different types of explosives.

In contrast, the other choices relate to different characteristics of explosives that do not define their sensitivity. The temperature at which an explosive detonates is considered its ignition point rather than its sensitivity. The chemical composition determines the properties and effectiveness of the explosive but does not directly relate to how susceptible the explosive is to initiation. Finally, the detonation speed refers to how quickly the explosive reacts once initiated, which is a different aspect from sensitivity itself.