Fulminate

Fulminate

Identifiers
CAS Number	28269-67-2 N
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChEBI	CHEBI:29811 Y
ChemSpider	11854
Gmelin Reference	239442
PubChem CID	12360
InChI InChI=1S/CNO/c1-2-3/q-1 Y Key: FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-L Y InChI=1S/CNO/c1-2-3/q-1 Key: USXDFAGDIOXNML-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [C-]#[N+][O-]
Properties
Chemical formula	CNO−
Molar mass	42.018 g·mol−1
Conjugate acid	Fulminic acid
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Fulminates are chemical compounds which include the fulminate ion (CNO⁻, C⁻≡N⁺−O⁻). The fulminate ion is a pseudohalic ion because its charge and reactivity are similar to those of the halogens. Due to the instability of the ion, fulminate salts are friction-sensitive explosives. The best known is mercury(II) fulminate, which has been used as a primary explosive in detonators. Fulminates can be formed from metals, such as silver and mercury, dissolved in nitric acid and reacted with ethanol. The weak single nitrogen-oxygen bond is responsible for their instability. Nitrogen very easily forms a stable triple bond to another nitrogen atom, forming nitrogen gas.