The Chemistry of Powder and Explosives - Sciencemadness Dot Org

DISCOVERY OF FULMINATING COMPOUNDS 403
ready for the experiment. Or, if it is desired to prepare in advance an
explosive capsule which can safely be kept as long as desired, then the
bulb is held in place at the bottom of the test tube by a collar of glass
(a section of glass tubing) sintered to the inner wall of the test tube,
and the top of the test tube is drawn down and sealed. When the prepared
test tube or capsule is dropped onto a concrete pavement from
Glass collar
Chloroform
Bulb-
Alkali metal
Thin.wall
-glass tube
-Chloroform
FIGURE 92. Apparatus for Demonstrating the Explosion of Chloroform
with an Alkali Metal.
a height of 6 feet, a loud explosion is produced accompanied by a
bright flash which is visible even in the direct sunlight. The chemical
reaction is as follows, each one of the three chlorine atoms of the
chloroform reacting in a different manner.
6CHCI3 + 6Na 6NaCl + 6HC1 +
Cl-
Mercury fulminate appears to have been prepared for the first
time by Johann Kunckel von Lowcnstcrn (1630-1703), the same
chemist who discovered phosphorus and applied the purple of
Cl