fulminating mercury

Thân thiện

A chemist carefully handles a small sample of fulminating mercury in a secure laboratory.

Definition

Noun: - A primary explosive compound: Fulminating mercury is mercuric fulminate, a highly sensitive explosive compound. In its dry state, it detonates violently from shock, friction, or heat. - A detonator component: Historically and in some applications, it is used as the initiating explosive in detonators, blasting caps, and percussion caps for firearms.

Usage

• Fulminating mercury is handled with extreme caution due to its sensitivity.
• It is primarily discussed in historical, industrial, or chemical contexts.

Examples

• The old percussion cap contained fulminating mercury to ignite the gunpowder.
• Due to its instability, fulminating mercury has been largely replaced by safer primary explosives in modern detonators.
• The laboratory stored the fulminating mercury in a specially designed, shock-proof container.

Advanced Usage

• Chemical Context: The term specifies the compound mercuric fulminate (Hg(CNO)₂), distinguishing it from other fulminates like silver fulminate.
• Historical Context: Refers to the explosive material used in early firearm ignition systems (percussion locks) and industrial blasting.

Variants and Related Words

• Mercuric fulminate: The precise chemical name for fulminating mercury.
• Fulminate (noun): A salt or ester of fulminic acid; a class of compounds known for their explosive properties.
• Primary explosive: A category of highly sensitive explosives used to initiate a larger, less sensitive secondary explosive.

Synonyms

• Mercury(II) fulminate
• Hg(CNO)₂ (chemical formula)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to the chemical compound. It is not used metaphorically or in idiomatic expressions. Its usage is strictly technical.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a fulminate that when dry explodes violently if struck or heated; used in detonators and blasting caps and percussion caps

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mercury fulminate
• fulminate of mercury