Book Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 Excerpt: ...of oxidizing bodies, because it parts with its oxygen readily, of which it contains a great quantity, (.3915 of its weight.) Thrown on burning coals, it melts quickly. It explodes by simple contact with sulphuric acid: mixed with a combustible body, the mixture may be exploded by friction or by a blow. It should be purchased crystallized, and should hot contain more than one-thousandth of its weight of chloride of sodium or potassium. Its purity is tested by means of the nitrate of silver dissolved in distilled water,--73 J grs. in one-quarter of a pint. Dissolve 77 grs. of the chlorate in 300 grs. of warm water, and let the solution get cold; the chlorate will be precipitated in crystals. Add to the liquid about two drops of the solution of the nitrate of silver. After filtering, the liquid ought not to give a precipitate by the addition of more nitrate of silver. Fulminate Of Mercury is a white salt, crystallized in fine, silky needles. Soluble in water; more so in warm than in cold water. The elements of this salt are held together so feebly that the least shock or friction causes its decomposition with an explosion. (For manner of making, see page 300.) Fulminating-powders are compositions that detonate with great force by friction or by a blow. They are generally made of fulminate of mercury or a mixture of chlorate of potassa and sulphuret of antimony. The preparation and manipulation of these powders are very dangerous, and ought to be made, with the greatest precautions, far from the laboratory and magazines. The powder of chlorate of potassa and sulphuret of antimony cannot be manipulated without danger if it have not at least 20 per cent, of water with it. In this state a blow or friction explodes only the part Btruck or rubbed; the rest is disper...
