Definition

Noun: - A primary explosive compound: Mercury fulminate is a chemical compound historically used as a primary explosive. It is highly sensitive to shock, friction, or heat, especially when dry, and is used to initiate a larger, secondary explosion.

Usage

• Mercury fulminate is a specific chemical compound. It is used as a technical term in chemistry, explosives engineering, and historical contexts.
• It is typically used as a non-count noun (e.g., "a charge of mercury fulminate").

Examples

• Noun:
  • Early detonators often contained a small amount of mercury fulminate.
  • The instability of dry mercury fulminate made its handling extremely dangerous.
  • He synthesized mercury fulminate in the laboratory for the demonstration.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: Mercury fulminate was a crucial component in percussion caps for firearms and blasting caps for mining throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries before being replaced by safer compounds like lead azide.

Variants and Related Words

• Fulminate (n): A salt or ester of fulminic acid, known for its explosive properties. "Mercury fulminate" is a specific type of fulminate.
• Fulminate (v): To express vehement protest or to explode suddenly. This verbal form is related etymologically but distinct in modern usage.
• Primary explosive (n): The class of explosives to which mercury fulminate belongs. These are sensitive initiators used to detonate less sensitive secondary explosives.

Synonyms

• Fulminate of mercury: An older, synonymous name for the same compound.

Related Phrases

• Blasting cap: A device containing a primary explosive like mercury fulminate, used to detonate a main explosive charge.
• Percussion cap: A small cylinder containing mercury fulminate, used in early firearms to ignite the propellant.

Noun

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