Ammonium fulminate

As briefly mentioned in the previous chapter, fulminates are capable of forming a variety of complexes with metals [8, 39]. The first of the fulminato(metal) complexes (complexes with fulminate ligands) was K[Ag(CNO)2]. This compound was obtained by Liebig from the reaction of SF and potassium chloride [8]. Ammonium fulminate NH4CNO has not yet been synthesized. A complex salt containing the ammonium cation NH4[Ag(CNO)2] can be easily prepared by the reaction of the ammonium salt with SF in methanol [39]. 

Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulphuric acid Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, fulminic acid (produced in ethanol-nitric acid mixtures), ammonium compounds See alkali metals (above)... 

Ammonium nitrate Oinitrophenol Oinitrotoluol Fulminate of mercury Hexanitrodiphenylamine Lead styphnate Picric acid and picrates Potassium nitrate Sen sol... 

Peroxides, organic Phosphorus (white) Potassium chlorate Potassium perchlorate Potassium permanganate Silver Acids (organic or mineral), avoid friction, store cold Air, oxygen Acids (see also chlorates) Acids (see also perchloric acid) Glycerol, ethylene glycol, benzaldehyde, sulphuric acid Acetylene, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, fulminic acid (produced in ethanol — nitric acid mixtures), ammonium compounds... 

This primary explosive is created by adding lead acetate to a solution of sodium or ammonium azide. Lead azide has a good shelf life in dry conditions but is unstable in the presence of moisture, oxidizing agents, and ammonia. It is less sensitive to impact than mercury fulminate, but more sensitive to friction. Since lead azide is a nonconductor, it may be mixed with flaked graphite to form a conductive mixture for use in low-energy electronic detonators. 

Ammonium hexacyanoferrate(II), 2577 f Arsine, 0100 Azido-2-butyne, 1473 3-Azidopropyne, 1114 c /.v-A/obcn/cnc, 3484 Azoxybenzene, 3485 Barium azide, 0214 Benzenediazonium nitrate, 2275 Benzotriazole, 2269 Borane, 0135 Bromine azide, 0256 f 3-Bromopropyne, 1090 f 1,2-Butadiene, 1479 f 1,3-Butadiene, 1480 f Buten-3-yne, 1423 f 1-Butyne, 1481 f 2-Butyne, 1482 Cadmium azide, 3957 Cadmium cyanide, 0588 Cadmium fulminate, 0589 Cadmium nitride, 3960... 

This distinction is more in kind than in degree. Small quantities of primary or initiating explosives usually detonate when exposed to flames or high temperatures whiie secondary explosives usually burn or deflagrate under these conditions. However under slightly altered conditions primary explosives can be made to deflagrate and secondary explosives can be made to detonate. Examples of primary explosives are Lead Azide, Mercury Fulminate, DDNP, etc Examples of secondary explosives are PETN, RDX, HMX, Tetryl, TNT, as single HE compns and Comp B, Comp C, PBX 9404, Dynamite ANFO (Ammonium Nitrate/Fuel Oil) as HE mixtures... 

As a rule explosives were listed and described under their parent compounds arranged in alphabetical order, as for example 2,4,6-Trinitroaniline or Picramide is described under ANILINE in Vol I of Encycl. Most of the metallic salts are described under the names of their anions as, for example, Lead Azide (LA) is described under AZIDES, Mercuric Fulminate (MF), under FULMINATES, whereas some salts are described under the names of their cations- as for example Ammonium Nitrate (AN) is described under AMMONIUM in Vol 1... 

Mercury fulminate undergoes rapid decomposition by the action of ammonium sulphide to form mercuric sulphide. The fulminate dissolves in sodium thiosulphate, according to the reaction ... 

Curtius added lead acetate to a solution of sodium or ammonium azide resulting in the formation of lead azide. In 1893, the Prussian Government carried out an investigation into using lead azide as an explosive in detonators, when a fatal accident occurred and stopped all experimental work in this area. No further work was carried out on lead azide until 1907 when Wohler suggested that lead azide could replace mercury fulminate as a detonator. The manufacture of lead azide for military and commercial primary explosives did not commence until 1920 because of the hazardous nature of the pure crystalline material. 

FGAN fertilizer grade ammonium FM fulminate of mercuryfsee MF)... 

Ammonium picrate is less sensitive to shock than picric acid. It is not easily detonated by fulminate, but is commonly used with a... 

Guanidine picrate is procured as a yellow, finely crystalline precipitate by mixing warm solutions of guanidine nitrate and ammonium picrate. It is even less sensitive to blow and to shock than ammonium picrate it is not detonated by fulminate and is used with a picric acid booster. The pure material, recrystallized from alcohol or from water, in both of which solvents it is sparingly soluble, melts with decomposition at 318.5-319.5°. 

Nitrogen halides are destroyed with cold base. Azides and fulminates-may often be destroyed with acid, while heavy metal acetylides are decomposed by ammonium sulfide. The removal of peroxides by reduction has been described above. 

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