2134. Fulminating Mercury

2134.     Fulminating Mercury. Dissolve by a gentle heat 100 parts, by weight, of mercury in 100 parts nitric acid of specific gravity 1.4; and when the solution has acquired a temperature of 130° Fahr., slowly pour it through a glass funnel tube into 830 parts alcohol of specific gravity .830. As soon as the effervescence is over and white fumes cease to rise, filter it through double paper, wash with cold water, and dry by steam (not hotter than 212°) or hot water. This is the formula of Dr. Ure, and said to be the cheapest and safest. If parts by measure be adopted, the above proportions will be, for 100 parts, by measure, of mercury, 740 parts nitric acid, and 830 parts alcohol.

2135. Fulminating Copper

2135.    Fulminating Copper. Digest copper, in powder or filings, with fulminate of mercury or of silver, and a little water. It forms soluble green crystals that explode with a green flame.

2136. Fulminating Powder

2136.    Fulminating Powder. Powder separately 3 parts nitre, 2 parts dry {see No. 2065 (Colored Fires)) carbonate of potash, and 1 flowers of sulphur; mix them together carefully. If 20 grains of this compound are slowly heated on a shovel over the fire, it melts and becomes brown, exploding with a loud report.

2137. New Explosive Compound

2137.      New Explosive Compound. B. G. Amend has observed that glycerine mixed with crystallized permanganate of potassa in a mortar spontaneously deflagrates.

2138. Priming for Percussion Caps

2138.    Priming for Percussion Caps. To make this compound 100 grains of fulminating mercury are triturated with a wooden mailer on marble, with 30 grains of water and 60 grains of gunpowder. This is sufficient for 400 caps. Dr. "Ore recommends a solution of gum mastich in turpentine as a medium for attaching the fulminate to the cap.

2139. Percussion Pellets

2139.    Percussion Pellets. Mix equal parts of the chlorate of potassa and sulphuret of antimony with liquid gum, so as to form a paste. When dry it may be formed into pellets, and used as percussion powder for guns. This composition, placed on the ends of splints dipped in sulphur, produces friction matches. This mixture may also be employed for percussion caps, only without the gum ; the two substances, mixed together dry, are forced into the caps, and a drop of varnish deposited on the inside surface of each. A mixture of the fulminate of mercury, chlorate of potassa, and sulphur, however, is more commonly used for lining percussion caps.

2140. To Make Gunpowder

2140.    To Make Gunpowder. Pulver-. ize separately, 76 parts nitrate of potassa, 11 sulphur, and 13 freshly burned charcoal, and mix them with a little water, so as to form a cake when rolled out on a board. This is then dried on a clean sheet of paper placed in a warm situation, and afterwards crumbled into grains. It will form unglazed gunpowder. The pulverized ingredients, thoroughly mixed, without the addition of any water, constitute what is called meal powder ; this may also be made by pulverizing grained gunpowder very cautiously in a mortar, or with a muller. (See Porphyrization, No. 25.)