fulminate (redirected from Aurum fulminans)

fulminate (fŭl`mĭnāt), any salt of fulminic acid, HONC, a highly unstable compound known only in solution. The term is most commonly applied to the explosive mercury (II) fulminate, also called fulminate of mercury, Hg(ONC)₂. The pure compound forms white cubic crystals. It is made by the action of nitric acid on mercury metal in the presence of alcohol and is often collected as a gray or brown sandy powder. It is very sensitive to heat, shock, or friction and is used in primers, detonators, and blasting caps.

---

fulminate

any salt or ester of fulminic acid, esp the mercury salt, which is used as a detonator

---

fulminate [′fu̇l·mə‚nāt]

(medicine)

Of a disease, to come suddenly and follow a severe, intense, and rapid course.

(organic chemistry)

A salt of fulminic acid.

HgC₂N₂O₂An explosive mercury compound derived from the fulminic acid; used for the caps or exploders by means of which charges of gunpowder, dynamite, and other explosives are fired. Also known as mercury fulminate.