Elementary Productions: Synthesis of Mercury Fulminate

[kuhataparunks]

Great video!!!

[MrMiko93]

how much nitric acid did you use ?

[AnthonyBlackline]

@MrMiko93 He use 2x the mass of mercury I think ? But it's not really a problem. You can see, the réaction not make all the Nitric acide to Fulminate mercury (after the end, when he add the Ethanol)

[Speednugget2000]

This, is not meth.

[hudacheck]

@Speednugget2000 That's why I'm here :)

[newgroundscrazy]

@Speednugget2000 THIS. IS. SCIENCE.

[Sllipp]

Hey, if anyone knows what is the white smoke, please contact me.

It's not any of mercury's oxides (yellow or orange) or nitric oxides either... could it be CO2 that condensates?

[Cockroachkz]

@Sllipp I think it's mainly acetaldehyde (C2H4O), and is quite explosive.

[Sllipp]

@Cockroachkz Thanks for your reply. You seem to be the first person I met that can give any idea about that smoke. Big thanks!

[MrCrazymen3]

will come out the same amount of explosive that mercury added I mean if I add 5 grams of mercury will come out 5 grams of fulminating or will emerge?

[JohnSopesor83]

Can we make another fulminate salt,such as Copper (II) Fulminate...???

[CHEMIST674]

that white smoke could"nt be byany chance ethanol vapour because of the exothermicity of the reaction or any organic compound? The equation should be- C2H5OH + Hg(NO3)2 = Hg(CNO)2 + 3H2O....so there is an equal chance of being mercury fulminate vapour...

[douro20]

Riedel-De-Haen no longer sells organic chemicals...

[BeepKing]

How to make Mercury Fulminate a one bigger mono crystal? no ideas?

[actor2120]

that was well done! i love it! check out our vids!

[fly2000jtb]

what was the wash and then what was the neutralization liquid? very cool video too Joseph T fly2000jtb

[allthingsdestructive]

mercury fulminate will detonate if it is put in a small vial, placed on the ground, and stepped on. Why is this information useful? It can be used as a detonator for a thrown object if you don't want to use a fuse.

[vmelkon]

mabakken, you buy your stuff in large quantities. You must be an industrialist.

[captkirkconnell]

you tube likes to recommend to me how to make bombs go figuer- who programs the "RECOMENDER"?

[OpenComments]

@captkirkconnell

"With arthritis, particularly, you can throw a man from 1.5 or slight lower harmonic down into apathy, and the apparency of arthritis disappears. He's not better off, is he? No. Funny part of it is, he'll get arthritis all over again if you process him upscale. Therefore, simply hitting somebody in the head will very often cure things." - L. Ron Hubbard, 29 April 1959, SHPAC-23

[1961arnie]

hope no terrorist watches this

[caliusoptimus]

put THAT in a gillie pipe n smoke it :D :X

[jacksawild]

You'd be mad to make this stuff. Or, more likely, you'd be mad after making it.

[asdfasdf8904]

wats the yield of the final product?

[ilikedogdognag]

i bet you that smoke smells pretty good

(btw if you die i get the money anyway)

[mewrox99]

Have you ever played with the even more reactive silver fulminate

[hushbaby12]

"Dont breath this"

[TheGoldenBlackTiger]

hey guys. :)

how do I avoid the solution from forming back in quick silver. for some reason when the solution heats off i get quick silver again from the crystals. very weird stuff. :D

[bentlybrasil]

I'm so sorry, I made a mistake, I used a spoon of Hg not Mg!

[bentlybrasil]

I tried this experiment, so the reaction with 2 different types of Ethanol didn't produce any smoke, and the final result was a yellow powder and it didn't burn. Well, describing better, I used Nitric Acid 60%, 1 spoon of Mg and after the primary reaction I mixtured the green solution to 50ml of Ethanol. Could you help me to understand?

[iwasapenny]

If you used magnesium, then you just made magnesium nitrate, congrats. It just so happens that MAGNESIUM won't form MERCURY fulminate.

If that [Mg] was a typo (I hope so!), then use stronger HNO3, or initiate the formation of nitrogen oxides with either soluble starch or acetone adding to the EtOH, that's how I synthesize silver fulminate, I don't like wasting good nitric on novelty primaries.

[61slugbug]

what did you use to pour in the mercury metal?

[61slugbug]

what did you use to pour in the mercury metal?

[762full]

Can you make bullet primers from this?

[AxelTiger]

your lucky to have be educated in chemisty! wish I took it up :) looks like you get to do awosme things with chemicals

[GenevaSuspension]

Lead Azide is the ticket.

[douro20]

What is in the white smoke which is evolved?

[Myfanwy94]

maybe fulminic acid.

[duenschman]

the fumes should be passed through a condenser, and the condensat contains: alcohol, acetaldehyde, ethyl nitrate, ethyl nitrite.

[d0md0mt0mt0m]

will you get high if you inhale the smoke?

[9welt0]

I believe the smoke is toxic

[dwerg2k]

@d0md0mt0mt0m

Not high but possibly dead.

[d0md0mt0mt0m]

Ok, I'll try it anyway.

[duenschman]

alcohol, acetaldehyde, ethyl nitrate, ethyl nitrite.

[antiswattt2]

Mercury Fulminate ♥

[xR0WDYx]

yeah make sure you add the dissolved mercury to the ethanol. and not vice versa...whoopsie

[JesusHChrist2000]

Shouldn't this be done in an icebath?

[iwasapenny]

Then it wont work, mercury fulminate only forms when a runaway takes place, many times heating is necessary, NOT cooling.

[douro20]

It is also sensitive to friction.

[donnelrj01]

There are plenty of videos like that for K3Wl bastards like you to look at.

I hope you are injured enough so that you can't type and clutter good videos like this with idiotic comments.

[Frresh123]

Acetone peroxide is shit, because its extremely shock sensitive and it sublimates so u can only prepare tiny amounts.

[MrChaosHeadz]

Wow. is it really dangerous if you inhale the smoke after expolsion? I mean its not quick death if you do

[Peterditaa]

but your brain will be quite fucked, mercury is pretty unhealthy, and it makes you getting Alzheimer and other disseas.

[antiswattt]

wow i gotta get some concentrated nitric acid s:

[Hismathefirst]

You can obtain the white form by adding a small amount of copperchloride to the acid mercurynitrate solution.

[Agentoxedo07]

Holy-Terrorist:>the plomb azoture is new explosif to ignition contain plomb, lead, mmm lead azoture and the difficulty to create the chemical, for the expermiently chemister have the succes creation, hehehe=*

[lesleyblood1]

Hg Vapour.....mmmmmmmm...ha he ha he ha he ha ..excuse me my nose just fell off

[antiswattt]

wow.. im glad that somebody finally posted a easy video of mercury fulminate..instead of that iraq one.. or watever it was (: plz tell me.. the mercury i find in thermometers.. does that work?

[tTatmosT]

yes you can, it's metalic mercury but I don't tink the amount in a thermometer will be enough

[antiswattt]

im not gonna make the same amount.. it is a primary explosive.. (: dangerous

[o2292o12]

Fantastic demonstration. Informative, though mostly just damn cool.

[Agentoxedo07]

holy-terrorist:>woow, energy mercury *=*

[thisnthem]

Det var faktisk ganske enkelt såg det ut som:P

[axman4806]

wait, then how do u crystallize it?

[skott1090]

lol i was watching braking bad and saw him throw this shit

[spikespeigel]

me too

[Pyroguy92]

ya me too that was an awesome seen, frikken best show

[TakronRust]

@skott1090 I remember that. The only thing I recall thinking wasn't that it was cool, but 'Fulminate of Mercury isn't clear...' lol

[sekirei16]

@skott1090

same here



[sekirei16]

@skott1090

same here



[NarlepoaxIII]

@skott1090

Breaking Bad makes chemistry fun!

[migdeulo93]

@NarlepoaxIII everything makes chemistry fun :D

[telesniper2]

neat!

[sockpuppetsfromhell]

You can also do this with silver and gold. Silver is fairly cheap and less toxic.

[ccr5cxcr4]

"Silver is fairly cheap and less toxic." And silver fulminate is a hell of a lot less stable than mercury fulminate. Good luck with your fingers.

[sockpuppetsfromhell]

I've played with nitrogen triiodide without injury. I wouldn't use any fulminates in a blasting cap, so I don't see the problem for demonstration purposes.

[ccr5cxcr4]

sockpuppetsfromhell - Oh sure, I have made NI3 plenty of times. Gotta be aware of the dangers. I wouldn't play with silver fulminate. Very powerful, very unstable & silver is LESS toxic but far from non-toxic.

For a demo with a good hood & carefully chosen amounts, it is fine.

[UAEchemist]

I wouldn't say silver is that cheap. Silver nitrate which i bought the last time was really expensive. The procedure of making it is a little longer then Mercury Fulminate , Mercury fulminate however is cheaper, it may be toxic but its not as sensitive as silver fulminate.

[warcontracts]

grate video, thanx

[sockpuppetsfromhell]

This is some dangerous stuff.

[sockpuppetsfromhell]

And the alcohol itself will nitrate making it explosive as well.

[donnelrj01]

Erm... no it wont. Go revise.

[GoaTseTung]

Very interesting videos, good stuff. :)

[everestfalls]

I specifically asked for mercury filled termometers the old school types where in you can die when they break and you inhale the fumes, i tried the formulation it worked wonderfully just used it this new year made some kick A fireworks YAY SCIENCE!!!!!!!!

[UAEchemist]

You won't die if the thermometer breaks, you need to inhale lots of mercury before getting sick, you can still clean it up with an eyedropper and a suction syringe.

[everestfalls]

well you won't die instantly but I think you'll die gradually if I inhale too much of it in due time, I am still worried that I'll inhale too much of it so I use the gas mask from start to end of the synthesis process, well me thinking about my health and well being while mixing some very unstable chemicals is pretty ironic, well better try that suction syringe then thx.

[UAEchemist]

Well i pretty much handled mercury on my own many times, i would say that if you were working in a factory with mercury fumes everyday then you would usually be worried within time of the months you can get mercury poisoning symptoms. If you have a gas mask then it is good to use. Thermometers can be cleaned without a gas mask, because your not handling kg's of mercury.

[slateflash]

Hi, wat's the IUPAC name of fulminate?

[UAEchemist]

Hg=(ONC)2, HgO2N2C2.

[slateflash]

Thx!:)

[cacouratos]

hay umm iz mucury fulminate frction sensitive

[TheFluorineMartyr]

No. I heard of this really cool trick when you can put some in your mouth and grind it with your teeth...

~_~

[TheFluorineMartyr]

Hi. Is the dissolved NOx mandatory for the formation of the fulminate? I ask merely as NOx should be generated from the oxidation of ethanol.

[mabakken]

The simple answer is: Yes =) Let's keep it simple :P

[chemoxid]

@mabakken

being that simple to make it, how do you neutrilze the product?

i saw a video showing how alkali solutions(KOH solution) destroy the compound.

so, wich way? or should i wash this several times?

[duenschman]

the crystals are washed repeatedly by decantation, until the washings are no longer acid to litmus.

(book: the chemistry of powder and explosives, tanney l. davis)

[purplemutantas]

@duenschman Ah the chemistry of powder and explosives. That's a good book. Nice to see someone else who is familiar with it.

[everestfalls]

I got some mercury but i bought around 5 termometers

[BigBananaMan]

That may not be mercury. Mercury has been almost entirely replaced in newer thermometers by galinstan, a very mercury like alloy. You can still get mercury from B/W TVs and older thermometers.

[capitalist4life]

Where can one buy mercury?

[skyflyer900]

Where can you buy mercury?, LOL thats the million dollar question. Most industrial companies will only sell it to other industries, most lab companies will only sell it to schools, and any other place that might sell you mercury would want you to probubly be licenced and will charge you about $30.00 extra to ship it as a hazmat fee.

I anyone figures out where to get mercury, reply to this. Im sure everyone would like to know

[101piesaregood]

united nuclear . com

[SymAmineC8H11N]

i don't think that availability is that bad... try sigma aldrich's website

[101piesaregood]

united nuclear . com

[cyanide444]

Did you do this at home? If you did, where did you get the chemicals from. I have a hard time finding significant amounts (above 10%) nitric acid, and same goes with mercury. Do you know where I could get PURE ethanol. The stuff here is denat with many other impurities.

[overcaffein8d]

...if that's the case, i wish i had a lab at my house

[LostInAnIceDesert]

i think i have to say that i won't make any fulminate.

i need all of my 10 fingers^^

[LostInAnIceDesert]

thanks for the fast answer :)

[LostInAnIceDesert]

i have two questions:

1. would that work with other metals, too?

2. what is the whits smoke? Hg(ONC)2 ?

[mabakken]

Other metals work as well, such as Silver or Copper Fulminate. Although, the preparation of these are not the exact same as shown in this video.

The white smoke consists mostly of Mercury Fulminate (I think). I never got around to finding a good answer to that question...

[TheMaDMAli]

@mabakken The white smoke probably contains a fair amount of mercury oxide vapors(which are white) amongst nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, water vapor, and ethanol vapor. Also i am positive that it is not mercury fulminate vapor.

[Eltano2991]

It could be, the problem is that in the experiment (i've done it myself), y couldn't see any NO2 coming out (as a brown gas), when the ethanol is added i only see a white smoke. I thought it could be nitric acid decomposing because of the temperature to NO and H2O (with the HNO3 catalizing the reaction without reacting).

[Eltano2991]

do you know the chemical equations for the second reaction? (the one between mercury nitrate, excess nitric acid and ethanol) I can't find it anywhere!

[mabakken]

I have to say that I am a bit uncertain myself, but it should be something like this (not balanced):

Hg(NO3)2 + HNO3 + C2H5OH --> Hg(ONC)2 + H2O + NO2

[derkozten]

Hmmm... I never realized the "neutralization" step.

How did you do it? Didn't it spoil spoil the fulminate, transforming it into mercury hidroxide or oxide?

[mabakken]

It was neutralized by bicarbonate. Didn't seem to have a chemical effect on it...

Mercuric Oxide is insoluble in water, and so is Fulminate, so there is no way that the Oxide would be formed. I have never heard of Mercury Hydroxide, but this wouldn't happen either as, again, the Fulminate is insoluble in water. =)

[nitrex]

I have a question, i performed some Mercury Fulminate and then i filtered it out, i believe there is nothing wrong in the synthesis, however the Fulminate powder never detonate at all. The funny part was that later it would grow yellow spots around the edges, whats your suggestion ?

[Chem1001]

Very good video.

[hootinouts]

I heard that Mercury Fulminate can explode if you hit it with a hammer

[AirsoftLife]

as can just about every other primary high explosive...

[nitrex]

Also another question, can you detonate Mercury Fulminate by vibration or hitting it ? Example, hitting it with a hammer ?

[mabakken]

Yes, it is shock sensitive.

[nitrex]

Thanks again, i will demonstrate a Mercury Fulminate Video.

[CarefaceProduction]

DO you have to use vacuum when you use the buchner funnel??

And do you have to buy a filter paper or does it filter on it's own?

Sry for bad english...

[nitrex]

I don't think you need any vacuum, its just simple filtration, its just a separation between the liquid and solid, thats all it is, i don't think there is anything special in how you filter it, as long as its filtered without losing any of the solids.

[FP791]

Vacuum filtration is much faster and dries the product faster than using gravity filtration. It's used frequently in ochem, especially during purification (single solvent crystallization)

Did the OP even use a rubber gasket between the buchner funnel and vacuum Erlenmeyer flask? The suction was so low... Did you also use a water trap? or were you not using a pump and using water aspirator and dumping the chemicals down the sink?

[mabakken]

Firstly, thank you for elaborating on the use of vaccuum filtration =)

I did use a rubber- gasket. The suction was intentionally low, because there was no need for it to be higher. I did not use a water trap, because no water could have entered the pump (I made sure of it). Also, I did use a vaccum pump, and not an aspirator. All left- over chemicals was disposed of properly. I never flush chemicals down the drain....barely even Sodium Chloride :P

[darkcurrent]

Okay, thanks for properly disposing your chemicals. A lot of clandestine chemistry (drug labs) in the N.A. ends up in the sewers.

[nitrex]

Can you use some Ethyl Ethanol during this process ?

[mabakken]

Ethyl Ethanol?

[nitrex]

Yes, Because i have Ethyl Ethanol instead of Ethanol.

[mabakken]

What is the difference?

[nitrex]

I really don't know, thats why i am asking. Thats why i don't have a clue. I know i am suppose to use Ethanol but it looks like i have Ethyl Ethanol, written on the bottle it self.

[mabakken]

In my experience, ethanol and ethyl ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is the same thing. To test this, smell it. You probably know the smell of ethanol, and if the "ethyl ethanol" smells differently, you have a different substance.

Also, the smell would be different if the substances have been dyed.

[Eltano2991]

Hey, do you know the chemical equation for this reaction? i don't know which are the products (apart from the fulminate).

[Sebbass69]

can denatured alcohol be used in place of ethyl alcohol?

[mabakken]

They are basically the same thing :) Different names ;)

[gobidee]

the larger amount which was lit in this vid sounded exaclty like .1g of my mg/s flash with 300 mesh mg lol

[nitrex]

Great video, i wanted to make Mercury Fulminate but i am missing some concentrates Nitric acid, probably take me a long way from getting it since the labs are out of stock.

[tijgerjorri]

Hey man, where do you get the chemicals? All from school, or buy em yourself. All your chemicals are from the good brands and are very expensive.

[mabakken]

I buy most (if not all) of my chemicals myself. They aren't "that" expensive, but yes...expensive. The reason I buy chemicals from big chemical suppliers is because that that is what my "local dealer" carries...:)

[Basco36]

no, all pure, i think its just gets at my allergies or somthing.

[Basco36]

I did that reaction outside and it stunk up the hole yard with such a terrible smell like rotten bananas.

[mabakken]

That's strange! Mine smelt pretty good actually (:P), like a sweet ester. Did you use any "unpure" reactants?

[savanahus]

Another wonderful video. Keep up the great work. I'm curious though, how did you pick which experiments to do? meaning do you have a book you are getting these from or just looking into some experiments and doing the ones that appeal to you?

[mabakken]

The experiments I post videos on are simply experiments that I! want to see. I get my ideas primarily from experience! :)

[trx746]

THAT was a very good and informative video.

[mozartthebest]

Wow Very very nice.

And this interest in explosives?

[mabakken]

Thank you, but I don't understand your question...?

[Basco36]

very cool!

[mabakken]

That is so funny! I KNEW I would get that question, so I prepared ;)

They recently discovered that the molecules in Mercury Fulminate is arranged orthorhombically. This does not correspond to the structure of methamphetamine, as I know it.

I could go on and on with this, so if you need more information, send me a PM.

To conclude: The depiction of Mercury Fulminate in Breaking Bad is false. What the protagonist is holding is an actual salt, but probably rock- candy.

[crazyboy0602]

indeed his was pure white not brownish and he had a crystal the size of a golf ball a crystal that large would detonate on it's own. also he would need a couple thousand ml's of Hg and even more nitric acid besides how did the explosion blow out windows but not deafen him or even chop off his legs it a word: bullshit

really nice video by the way there are few like it. keep em comin' i love energetic materials.

[bluefuzz1015]

in the TV show "breaking bad, the main character makes mercury fulminate into a large(about one cubic inch) crystal. do you know if that is possible, and if so, how did he do it?