Rattlesnary mercury

In the 17th century Johan Kunkel first received a rattlingmercury. The recipe for making this compound is described in his book, which was published after the death of the alchemist. After the discovery of rattlesnake mercury was not used until 1800. The recipe for making the connection was opened by Edward Howard. The scientist has studied many of its properties. The exact chemical composition of the compound was determined by Liebig in about 1824.

It should be noted that before this event inIn 1807, Forsythe patented the use of a substance as the initiator of the detonation of smoky powder. In 1836 a gun was created in which a shock igniter was used. Impact igniters in Russia began to produce in 1843 year. In 1867 Nobel invented a detonator, which was successfully used in the detonation of dynamite.

Rattlesnary mercury is a fairly toxic compound. But its main danger, as it turned out, is not in virulence.

The structure of rattlesome salts was finally deciphered by the year 1890. These compounds in science have acquired a more strict name - fulminates ("lightning").

For many years, rattling mercury ignitedcharges of gunpowder and dynamite. However, in recent years other compounds have also been used. For example, the new initiating explosives are tercere and lead azide. However, the latter is, according to scientists, the main today.

Rattlesome mercury is "afraid" of moisture. In addition, as practice shows, it is not always capable of provoking secondary compound activity and often requires an additional detonator.

Mercury mercury is presented in the form of gray orwhite crystalline powder. In dry form it shows a high sensitivity to shock, fire, friction and other influences. The explosion occurs when the compound is exposed to concentrated sulfuric acid. The decomposition of volatile mercury is caused by concentrated acids, as well as by boiling and the action of alkaline salts.

The formula of mercury (rattlesnake) Hg (CNO) 2.

From the aqueous solution, yellow hemihydrate crystallizes (due to the presence of an impurity of the hydrolysis product). Does not differ in good solubility in ethanol.

White modification shows a noticeable stabilityand to thermal, and to chemical influences. Susceptible to sunlight - it begins to darken during irradiation, and mercury forms in the surface layers.

The burning rate is of the order of 15.5 mm / s. There is an active reaction of mercury with magnesium or aluminum, especially in the presence of moisture. This can provoke an explosion. In this regard, one should not allow contact of rattlesnake mercury and these metals.

In dry form, the compound shows a rather slow reaction with copper, silver, cadmium. Regardless of the condition (wet or dry), it does not interact with steel or iron.

When exposed to impact, the compound decomposes, notexploding. In conditions of humidity about thirty percent loses sensitivity completely. At a temperature of more than fifty degrees, a slow decomposition of mercury begins. This occurs even in dry conditions. At a temperature of 90-95 degrees in a few days, the compound decomposes completely. In this case, a yellow non-explosive substance is formed. When compounding 10% ethylcralite in the compound, the compound exhibits stability at temperatures up to eighty degrees.

Burning in charges, compressed loose,goes into detonation. A significant compaction of the compound helps to lose the properties of the initiating explosive. The detonation velocity is 2300 m / s, if the density is 1.25 g / cm3. The heat of the explosion is 1.79 MJ / kg. The volume of detonation products is 315 l / kg.

Pressing in the primer-detonators is carried out at a pressure of 250-300 kg / cm2.