^yo i^eiv Experiments on Chemical Detonation. 



which I ftruck with the cold hammer. The fulpliur took fire without affording any nolfe 5 

 but, when the hammer was ufcd hot, a detonation was heard, and rays of filver appeared 

 on the anvil. 



Having repeated the fame e>;periment with lapis infernalis and charcoal, I could pro- 

 duce no more than a very dull detonation, though the hammer was well heated. 



Experiment 13. I took feveral of the falts which had fulminated by the flroke, and threw 

 them, together with the phofphorus, into the liquid o?sygenatcd muriatic acid ; but no de- 

 tonation was pioduced. In an atmofpherc of the gas of the fame acid, the fulminating 

 mixtures burned with a flight crepitation, fimilar to that which is excited by phofphorus 



alone. 



Experiment 14. I wrapped men; of thefe detonated mixtures in fmall pieces of paper, 

 and threw them one after the other into a red-hot crucible. They burned with a very 

 lively flame, bin did not fulminate nor detonate. 



Conclusion. 



ifl. THE nitrate of fvlver, whether cryftallized or fufcd, fulminates when (Iruck with x 

 Jiammer, together with phofphorus, even at a low temperature. Exp. i. — All the falts of 

 filvcr do not fulminate equally, nor in the fame manner. Exp. 7. 



ad. Mod of the metallic nitrates fulminate with phofphorus. Exp. 3 .ind 4. 



3d. Common nitre, of which the fulminating property was before known, in its mixture 

 with various combufliblef, elevated to a certain temperature, or put into contact with an 

 inflamed body, as in gunpowder or fulminating powder, is now found to detonate with 

 phofphorus alone. Exp. 5. 



4th. 1 hofe falts into which the nitric acid has not entered as a component part do not 

 fulminate. 



5th. The oxygenated muriates of pofafh, of filver, and of ir.ercury, fulminate with phof- 

 phorus, but the latter with much iefs elFed than many other falts. E p. 8 and 2. 



6th. The falts are not the only bodies which fulminate with pliofphorus : feveral me- 

 tallic oxydes have the fame property. Exp. 9 and 10. 



7th Phofphorus likewife is not the only acidifiable and folid combuflible matter capable 

 of producing fulminations. Charcoal produces the fame efFe6t at a more elevated tempa- 

 lature. Exp. 1 1 and 12. 



, 8th. '^rhofe lubftances which fulminate with phofphorus produce no efFe£c when thro\V^ 

 into the liquid oxyg nated mjiriatic acid. E.xp. 13.— Neither do they fulminate when ex- 

 pofed together with phofphorus to an elevated temperature. Exp. 14. — The blow of the 

 hammer is neceflary to throw the component parts of thefe bodies into a ft.ate of ofcilla-. 

 tion, in order to determine the afliuities withefFed. 



ADDITION BT VAN MONS. 

 THE fafts obfesved by the learned editor of the Italian Annals of Chemiftry appeared 

 too curious ai d important for me to lofe any time in repeating his experiments. My fuc- 

 ceCs was as follows ; 



Tiie 



