THE  AMERICAN 
JOURNAL  OF  PHARMACY. 
AUGUST,  i89o. 
DETONATION  OF  TABLETS  COMPOSED  OF  CHLORATE 
OF  POTASSIUM  AND  CHLORIDE  OF  AMMONIUM. 
By  Charles  Bullock. 
The  mixture  of  the  above  mentioned  salts,  which  has  been  in  use 
for  some  time  as  a  popular  remedy  for  mouth  and  throat  affections, 
has  been  viewed  with  suspicion,  as  a  probable  source  of  mischief  on 
account  of  the  decomposition  resulting  between  them. 
After  a  few  weeks,  chlorine  compounds  are  evolved,  noticeable  by 
the  odor,  and  by  the  effect  on  the  organic  material  which  may  be  in 
contact  with  or  near  them. 
If  the  quantity  of  the  tablets  is  large,  sufficient  heat  may  be 
generated  to  cause  spontaneous  combustion,  should  circumstances 
favor  it. 
We  had  a  new  experience  with  them,  a  few  days  since.  A  lot  of 
the  tablets,  more  than  a  year  old,  were  removed  from  the  small 
bottles  in  which  they  are  usually  put  up,  and  four  ounces  of  them 
placed  in  one  bottle  and  finished  for  delivery.  While  standing 
undisturbed,  a  loud  explosion  occurred,  and  the  bottle  containing 
the  tablets  was  almost  pulverized — the  concussion  breaking  several 
other  bottles  in  proximity,  although  they  were  protected  by  paste- 
board cases. 
The  cause  of  the  detonation  may  be  looked  for  in  the  formation 
of  chloride  of  nitrogen,  as  one  of  the  resultants  of  decomposition 
between  the  salts.  This  experience  determined  us  to  deposit  the 
remainder  of  our  stock  of  the  tablets  in  the  Delaware  River  for  safe 
keeping  ! 
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