What Are Some Alternative Compounds To Silver Fulminate?

Silver fulminate is a highly explosive compound that is not commonly used due to its extreme sensitivity and potential danger. As such, several alternative compounds have been developed for various applications. Here are some examples:

1. Lead azide: This is a widely used primary explosive in detonators and other blasting applications. It is less sensitive than silver fulminate but still requires careful handling.

2. Potassium chlorate/sugar mixture: Also known as "black powder," this is a classic explosive used in fireworks and small arms ammunition. It is relatively stable and easy to produce, but it is also less powerful than many other explosives.

3. PETN: Pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) is a powerful secondary explosive used in military and commercial applications. It is much more stable than silver fulminate and can be synthesized relatively easily.

4. TNT: Trinitrotoluene (TNT) is another widely used explosive, particularly in military applications. It is relatively stable and powerful, but it is also toxic and produces harmful fumes when detonated.

5. HMX: Cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine (HMX) is a high-performance explosive used in advanced military and aerospace applications. It is highly stable and powerful, but also relatively expensive and difficult to produce.

Overall, there is a wide range of alternative compounds to silver fulminate that offer varying levels of stability, power, and ease of production depending on the intended application.