EXPLOSIVE LINKAGES 105 



Hydrogen compounds : 

 (Sb.H 3 ) = -82, (As.H 3 ) - -44, (H 2 0.0) as. 1 



Oxygen compounds : 



(N.O) --22, (C1 2 .0) =-18. 



Nitrogen compounds : 



(N,.H) = -6a, (N.Cl,) = -39, (N.S)=- 3 2, 



(N.Se)=-43. 



Carbon compounds : 



(C 2 .H 2 ) = - 53 , (C.S 2 ) = - 2a> (C,.N 2 )=-7i, 



(C 2 .Ag 2 ) = -8 7 . 



Explosion occurs under different conditions for the 

 different substances, for most solid and liquid compounds, 

 by a mechanical shock, such as NC1 3 , N 3 H, C 2 H 2 , &c. ; by 

 a very violent shock such as may be produced by an 

 explosion, say of silver fulminate, in the case of C 2 N 2 , 

 As H 3 and C 2 H 2 as gases ; by heat for C1 2 O, O 3 , H 2 O 2 ; by 

 sudden compression, i.e. combined heat and shock, in the 

 case of N 9 O ; 4 and it is well known that light and electric 

 sparks will, under some circumstances, determine an 

 explosion. 



We may apply the foregoing data to obtain a first insight 

 into the constitution of explosive substances, and show 

 that certain atomic combinations produce the explosive 

 character. 



Combination of similar atoms often plays a part in the 

 elements, resulting in a strained position. If the atoms are 

 univalent,such a combination cannot occur in the derivatives. 

 On the other hand, in diatomic oxygen we have the appear- 

 ance of a complex 



00 



that leads to easy breaking up. The table above contains 

 such cases in ozone and hydrogen peroxide : 



1 Heat of formation from oxygen and water. 



2 Berl. Ber. 32. 1399. 3 Centrdlblatt, 1899, " 5 8 3- 

 4 Berthelot, Matures explosives, I. 114. 



