Rattlesnary mercury

In the 17th century, Johan Kunkel first received rattlesnake mercury. 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 the joint was discovered 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 in 1807, Forsythe patented the use of a substance as the initiator of the detonation of smoky powder. In 1836 the gun was created, in which a shock igniter was used. Impact igniters in Russia began to produce since 1843 year. In 1867 Nobel invented a detonator, which was successfully used to detonate dynamite.

Rattlesnake is a sufficiently toxic compound. But its main danger, as it turned out, is not in virulence.

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

For many years, rattling mercury ignited charges of gunpowder and dynamite. However, in recent years other compounds have also been used. For example, the new initiating explosives are teneres and lead azide. At the same time, 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 a gray or white crystalline powder. In dry form it shows 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, crystallization of yellow hemihydrate occurs (due to the presence of an impurity of the hydrolysis product). Not good solubility in ethanol.

The white modification shows an appreciable resistance to both thermal and chemical effects. 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 rattlesnake mercury with magnesium or aluminum, especially in the presence of moisture. This can provoke an explosion. In this regard, it is not necessary to 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 without exploding. 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 the compound is added to 10% ethylcentral compound is stable at temperatures up to eighty degrees.

Combustion in charges, compressed loose, goes into detonation. A significant consolidation 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.