AJKOER - 26-4-2012 at 05:28
On a theoretical level, I was wondering whether heating Ammonium Oxalate monohydrate and Silver Chlorate, separated by paper or plastic, in
alternating layers, might be interesting (explosive). These salts are fairly tame by themselves (the MSDS for (NH4)2C2O4.H2O speaks for itself, see http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9925606 ) and AgClO3 is a oxidizing agent (see http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9924935 ).
Potential products formed could be, per the reaction:
(NH4)2C2O4.H2O + 2 AgClO3 --> 2 NH4ClO3 + Ag2C2O4 + H2O
Ammonium chlorate is a very unstable oxidizer exploding upon heating and exposure to sunlight. Solutions are reportedly also unstable. Its MSDS states
"Extremely explosive in presence of open flames and sparks, of shocks, of heat, of reducing materials, of organic materials. Slightly explosive in
presence of acids." Source: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9922929
On the other hand, Silver oxalate is explosive upon heating, shock or friction.
This synthesis is presented for discussion purposes only. Anyone actually attempting this synthesis are probably well advised to take serious
precautions and employ micro doses to avoid serious injury. I also would avoid directly mixing the salts.
Comments welcome.
Velzee - 5-8-2016 at 23:20
The only thing I'd worry about is decomposition of the (NH4)2C2O4 before anything occurs, especially with the evolution of HCN.
PHILOU Zrealone - 6-8-2016 at 10:11
Interesting idea to test in tiny...
Ag oxalate is weakly explosive.
NH4ClO3 is more explosive and unstable owing to NCl3 and ClO2 formation which are explosive for no reason.
AgClO3 is maybe explosive on its own ... AgClO2 is
AgClO3.NH3 is probably explosive too.
NH4 oxalate is stable but eventually sets oxamide and dicyanogen with a lot of water upon heating...maybe a fuel but probably a weak one...despite
N#C-C#N is a superfuel, explosive and detonating when compressed and shocked because of its endothermic nature...the 4 water molecule formed aside
will largely temper that effect.
And don't believe those MSDS, those are largely uncomplete and sometimes wrong on certain points!
woelen - 8-8-2016 at 01:35
Ammonium oxalate is stable. I have some of this reagent and it is not a very special thing.
Silver chlorate also is stable. I made this once and it does not decompose on storage. Even the bromate (which is more sensitive) is stable. This
stuff even is available commercially from the large chemical supply houses, so on their own these compounds are stable and can be stored.
I expect a mix of these two chemicals to be mildly explosive and quite sensitive to mechanical disturbance. I certainly would not mix more than a few
tens of mg with each other. Diapering a few tens of mg of a finely divided mix on a piece of paper and then igniting it seems reasonably safe to me.
If the few tens of mg explode unexpectedly, then the effect will be mild. More than a few tens of mg is too dangerous, do not do that!