mercury fulminate

n.

1.

(Chem.) The mercury salt of fulminic acid (Hg(CNO)2), called also fulminate of mercury. It is an explosive compound prepared as gray crystals, and is used primarily in detonators for detonating high explosives, such as dynamite or TNT. It is sensitive to shock and may be detonated by a blow.

Noun

1.

mercury fulminate - a fulminate that when dry explodes violently if struck or heated; used in detonators and blasting caps and percussion caps Synonyms: fulminate of mercury, fulminating mercury

blasting cap, fulminate, fulminate of mercury, fulminating mercury, percussion cap