Silver fulminate
Silver fulminate (AgCNO) is the highly explosive silver salt of fulminic acid.
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC names
Silver carbidooxidonitrate(1−) Silver oxidoazaniumylidynemethane | |
| Other names
Silver fulminate Silver(I) fulminate Argentous fulminate | |
| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChemSpider | |
PubChem CID |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| AgCNO | |
| Molar mass | 149.885 g/mol |
| Density | 3.938 g/cm3 |
| Explosive data | |
| Shock sensitivity | Extremely high |
| Friction sensitivity | Extremely high |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards |
Sensitive high explosive |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| 170 °C (338 °F; 443 K) | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
Silver fulminate is a primary explosive, but has limited use as such due to its extreme sensitivity to impact, heat, pressure, and electricity. The compound becomes progressively sensitive as it is aggregated, even in small amounts; the touch of a falling feather, the impact of a single water droplet, or a small static discharge are all capable of explosively detonating an unconfined pile of silver fulminate no larger than a dime and no heavier than a few milligrams. Aggregating larger quantities is impossible, due to the compound's tendency to self-detonate under its own weight.
Silver fulminate was first prepared in 1800 by Edward Charles Howard in his research project to prepare a large variety of fulminates. Along with mercury fulminate, it is the only fulminate stable enough for commercial use. Detonators using silver fulminate were used to initiate picric acid in 1885, but since have been used only by the Italian Navy. The current commercial use has been in producing non-damaging novelty noisemakers as children's toys.