Potassium fulminate

Potassium fulminate

Names
IUPAC name Potassium oxidoazaniumylidynemethane
Identifiers
CAS Number	15736-99-9
ChemSpider	9541865
Jmol interactive 3D	Image
PubChem	15975309
InChI InChI=1S/CNO.K/c1-2-3;/q-1;+1 Key: LOMWRVTZROPEGG-UHFFFAOYSA-N InChI=1/CNO.K/c1-2-3;/q-1;+1 Key: LOMWRVTZROPEGG-UHFFFAOYAS
SMILES [K+].[C-]#[N+][O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	CKNO
Molar mass	81.12 g·mol^−1
Density	1.8 g/cm^3
Hazards
Main hazards	Explosive
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Potassium fulminate is the potassium salt of the fulminate ion. Its only use, aside from chemical demonstrations, is in the percussion caps for some early rifles. Usually prepared by reacting a potassium amalgam with mercury fulminate,^[1] it is much less sensitive due to the ionic bond between potassium and carbon, unlike the weaker covalent bond between mercury and carbon.

See also

• List of explosives
• Fulminic acid
• Fulminate
• Silver fulminate
• Mercury(II) fulminate
• Potassium cyanate

References

1. Z. Iqbal and A. D. Yoffe (1967). "Electronic Structure and Stability of the Inorganic Fulminates". Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 302 (1468): 35–49. doi:10.1098/rspa.1967.0225.