Fulminating silver

Fulminating silver is a historic name which may apply to a number of silver based explosives which "fulminate" or detonate easily and violently. It has no exact chemical or dictionary definition, but may refer to:

  • silver fulminate (which, confusingly, is the only "fulminating silver" to be a silver compound with the fulminate anion)
  • silver azide, AgN3
  • a mixture, a decomposition product of Tollens' reagent
  • silver nitride, Ag3N - one of the earliest silver based explosives
  • the alchemical substance "Argentum Fulminans"

The stability of many of these compounds can vary depending on how they are stored or handled, with levels of hydration often being a major factor.[1]

References

  1. Ennis, John L.; Shanley, Edward S. (January 1991). "On hazardous silver compounds". Journal of Chemical Education. 68 (1): A6. Bibcode:1991JChEd..68....6E. doi:10.1021/ed068pA6.
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