Metal fulminates thallium fulminate

The metal fulminates are all powerfully explosive. Of several salts examined, those of cadmium, copper and silver were more powerful detonators than mercury fulminate, while thallium fulminate was much more sensitive to heating and impact. Formally related salts are also explosive [1]. Sodium, potassium, rubidium and caesium fulminates are all easily detonated by feeble friction or heat. They all form double salts with mercury(II) fulminate which also explode readily, that of the rubidium salt at 45 °C [2],... 

The other fulminates are of no practical value. They are prepared from mercury fulminate either by reacting the metal amalgam with a suspension of mercury fulminate in water (this is applicable to the majority of metals, including the alkali metals, or simply by the action of the metal itself (e.g. zinc or thallium) which displaces mercury from mercury fulminate (also in water). For example, chips of thallium, zinc, or copper are allowed to stand for some time in a suspension of mercury fulminate in water, the corresponding metal fulminate is gradually formed. 

Mercury can also form such compounds. Similarly, ammonia or ammonium ions can react widi gold salts to form "fulminating gold". Metal fulminates of cadmium, copper, mercury and thallium are powerfully explosive, and some are detonators [Luchs, Photog Sci Eng 10 334 1966], Heavy-metal-containing solutions, particularly when organic material is present, should be treated with great respect and precautions towards possible explosion should be taken. 

Some metallic fulminates also form directly by reaction of powdered metal with MF in a water suspension while boiling (e.g., Zn, Al, Cu) [15, 48, 105]. The preparation of thallium fulminate without use of an amalgam starting from MF and thallium is a good example, described by Hawley [109] ... 

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