Is Silver Fulminate Explosive?

Yes, silver fulminate is an explosive compound. It is a highly sensitive and unstable primary explosive, meaning that it can detonate from shock, friction, or heat alone without the need for a detonator.

Silver fulminate is made by reacting silver nitrate with ammonium hydroxide to form silver hydroxide, which is then reacted with fulminic acid. The resulting silver fulminate is a white crystalline solid.

Due to its high sensitivity and instability, silver fulminate should be handled with extreme care and only by experienced professionals trained in the safe handling of explosives. Even small amounts of silver fulminate can cause severe injury or death if mishandled. Therefore, it is not recommended for use by amateur chemists or for non-explosive purposes.