All Topics  
Mercury(II) fulminate

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Mercury(II) fulminate
 
 
  Topics Mercury(II) fulminate Topic Home

Mercury(II) fulminate, Hg(CNO)2, is a primary explosive. It is highly sensitive to friction
Friction

File:Friction alt.svgFriction is the force resisting the relative lateral motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, or material elements in contact....
 and shock
Shock (mechanics)

A mechanical or physical shock is a sudden acceleration or deceleration caused, for example, by impact, drop, kick, earthquake, or explosion. Shock is a transient physical excitation....
. It is mainly used as a trigger for other explosives in percussion caps and blasting cap
Blasting cap

A blasting cap is a small explosive device generally used to detonator a larger, more powerful explosive such as dynamite.Blasting caps come in a variety of types, some of which are: non-electric caps, electric caps and fuse caps....
s. Mercury(II) cyanate, though its formula is identical, has a different atomic arrangement; the cyanate
Cyanate

The cyanate ion is an anion consisting of one oxygen atom, one carbon atom, and one nitrogen atom, [OCN]-, in that order, and possesses 1 unit of negative electric charge, borne mainly by the nitrogen atom....
 and fulminate
Fulminate

Fulminates are Chemistry Chemical compound which include the fulminate ion. The fulminate ion, CNO- is a pseudohalic ion, acting like a halogen with its charge and reactivity....
 anions are isomers.

First used as a priming composition in small copper caps after the 1830s, mercury fulminate quickly replaced flints as a means to ignite black powder charges in muzzle loading firearms. Later, during the late 19th century and most of the 20th century, mercury fulminate and/or potassium chlorate
Potassium chlorate

Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the chemical formula KClO3. In pure form, it is a white crystalline substance....
 became widely used in primers for rifle and pistol ammunition.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Mercury(II) fulminate'
Start a new discussion about 'Mercury(II) fulminate'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Mercury(II) fulminate, Hg(CNO)2, is a primary explosive. It is highly sensitive to friction
Friction

File:Friction alt.svgFriction is the force resisting the relative lateral motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, or material elements in contact....
 and shock
Shock (mechanics)

A mechanical or physical shock is a sudden acceleration or deceleration caused, for example, by impact, drop, kick, earthquake, or explosion. Shock is a transient physical excitation....
. It is mainly used as a trigger for other explosives in percussion caps and blasting cap
Blasting cap

A blasting cap is a small explosive device generally used to detonator a larger, more powerful explosive such as dynamite.Blasting caps come in a variety of types, some of which are: non-electric caps, electric caps and fuse caps....
s. Mercury(II) cyanate, though its formula is identical, has a different atomic arrangement; the cyanate
Cyanate

The cyanate ion is an anion consisting of one oxygen atom, one carbon atom, and one nitrogen atom, [OCN]-, in that order, and possesses 1 unit of negative electric charge, borne mainly by the nitrogen atom....
 and fulminate
Fulminate

Fulminates are Chemistry Chemical compound which include the fulminate ion. The fulminate ion, CNO- is a pseudohalic ion, acting like a halogen with its charge and reactivity....
 anions are isomers.

First used as a priming composition in small copper caps after the 1830s, mercury fulminate quickly replaced flints as a means to ignite black powder charges in muzzle loading firearms. Later, during the late 19th century and most of the 20th century, mercury fulminate and/or potassium chlorate
Potassium chlorate

Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the chemical formula KClO3. In pure form, it is a white crystalline substance....
 became widely used in primers for rifle and pistol ammunition. Mercury fulminate has the distinct advantage over potassium chlorate
Potassium chlorate

Potassium chlorate is a compound containing potassium, chlorine and oxygen, with the chemical formula KClO3. In pure form, it is a white crystalline substance....
, being non-corrosive, but it is known to weaken with time. Today, mercury fulminate has been replaced in primers by more efficient chemical substances. Those are non-corrosive, less toxic and more stable over time: lead azide, lead styphnate
Lead styphnate

Lead styphnate , whose name is derived from styphnic acid, is a toxic explosive used as a component in percussion cap and detonator mixtures for less sensitive secondary explosives....
 and tetrazene
Tetrazene

Tetrazene is a chemical compound with the molecular formula Nitrogen4Hydrogen4. In IUPAC nomenclature, derivatives of this compound are known collectively as tetrazenes....
 derivatives.

Preparation

Mercury(II) fulminate is prepared by dissolving mercury
Mercury (element)

Mercury , also called quicksilver or hydrargyrum , is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80. A heavy, silvery d-block metal, mercury is one of six elements that are liquid at or near room temperature and pressure....
 in nitric acid
Nitric acid

Nitric acid , also known as aqua fortis and spirit of nitre, is a highly corrosion and toxic strong acid that can cause severe burns....
 and adding ethanol
Ethanol

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatility , flammable, colorless liquid....
 to the solution. It was first prepared by Edward Charles Howard
Edward Charles Howard

Edward Charles Howard, born 28 May 1774, the youngest son of the Duke of Norfolk, died 27 September 1816 was a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland chemist, who has also been described as "the first chemical engineer of any eminence....
 in 1800. The crystal structure
Crystal structure

In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. A crystal structure is composed of a motif, a set of atoms arranged in a particular way, and a lattice....
 of this compound was only determined in 2007.

Silver fulminate
Silver fulminate

Silver fulminate is an explosive ionic compound of silver and the fulminate anion.Silver fulminate is a primary explosive that has very little practical value due to its extreme sensitivity....
 can be prepared in a similar way, but this salt is even more unstable than mercury fulminate; it can even explode under water.

External links