Explosives. This is a general term for all substances which explode with violence. Some of these, as gunpowder, gun-cotton, etc., explode by being brought into contact with fire. Others, to which the term of Fulminates is applied, explode with violence by slight heat, friction, or concussion.

2131. Fulminating Antimony

2131.    Fulminating Antimony. Grind well together 100 parts of dried tartar emetic, and 3 parts of lampblack, or charcoal powder; then take a crucible capable of holding 3 ounces of water, and having ground its edge smooth, and rubbed the inside with powdered charcoal, 3/4 fill it with the above mixture, cover it with a layer of charcoal powder, and lute on the cover. Expose it for 3 hours to a strong heat in a reverberatory furnace, and, when taken out, let it stand to cool for 6 or 7 hours before removing its contents, to prevent an explosion. The crucible being now opened, the contents must be hastily transferred, without breaking, to a wide-mouthed stoppered phial, when, after some time, it will crumble down into a powder of itself. Or: Triturate together, very carefully, 100 parts antimony, 75 parts carburetted (roasted to blackness) cream of tartar, and 12 parts lampblack; preserve it in phials. When the above processes are properly conducted, the resulting powders fulminate violently on contact with water. It is to the presence of the very inflammable metal potassium that they owe this property. Another compound, made with BO parts of carburetted cream of tartar, 120 bismuth, and 1 of nitre, treated as above, contains an alloy very rich in potassium. A piece the size of a pea introduced into a mass of gunpowder explodes it on being thrown into water.

2132. Fulminating Gold

2132.     Fulminating Gold. Dissolve gold in aqua regia (made by dissolving 4 ounces sal ammoniac in 12 or 16 ounces nitric acid), and precipitate with a solution of carbonate of potassa. Fulminating gold should be made in very small quantities at a time, to avoid risk, as without great care it explodes with extreme violence. This is caused by the slightest friction or sudden increase of heat. Its fulminating property may be destroyed by boiling it in pearlash lye, or oil of vitriol; and by heating the powder after washing it in water, pure gold will be obtained.

2133. Fulminating Silver

2133.    Fulminating Silver. Digest oxide of silver (recently precipitated, and dried by pressure between bibulous paper) in concentrated liquor of ammonia for 12 or 15 hours, pour off the liquid, and cautiously dry the black powder in the air. The decanted ammonia, when gently heated, yields, on cooling, small crystals, which possess a still more formidable power of detonation, and will scarcely bear touching, even while under the liquid. This compound is exploded by the slightest friction or percussion, and should therefore be only made in very small quantities at a time, and handled with great caution. Its explosive powers are tremendous; in fact, it can hardly be handled with safety, even in the moist state. Many frightful accidents have happened from the spontaneous explosion of this substance. At most 1 or 2 grains can be exploded with safety at one time.