Sciencemadness Discussion Board

lead styphnate synth failure

dave321 - 22-11-2012 at 09:11

what is the likely failure points in this reaction

produces what looks like styphnic acid, very pale yellow ppt.

above reacts with mag carbonate suspended in water to give clear solution, dil nitric acid added, followed by lead acetate solution at ~70c.

this produces a pale yellow ppt. which is a flammable solid, not explosive.

any ideas anyone?

dave321

badabooom - 9-1-2013 at 00:32

Hi there,

Have a look at my thread. http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=21124

I would suggest you use Lead Nitrate rather than Lead Acetate.

I hope his helps.

caterpillar - 9-1-2013 at 01:17

I can give you the link to russian book on primaries: http://pirochem.net/index.php?id1=3&category=chemvvisost... . Here author recommends to use lead nitrate, not acetate. But most likely problem was caused by what you think is styphnic acid. Try its MP at least. I made this compound, but finally converted it to ammonium salt and blew up, using TATP as detonator

Microtek - 10-1-2013 at 09:04

"Very pale yellow" doesn't sound like styphnic acid (mine was dark orange, almost reddish) and my Mg-styphnate soln was a deep red, very strong colour. I also used lead nitrate for the precipitation of Pb-styphnate.

Rosco Bodine - 10-1-2013 at 12:24

Pure styphnic acid is extremely pale yellow even lighter than picric acid, and a yellow about like the color of a legal pad is as dark as it will be if it is pure.

See a picture at the following link

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=4457&a... pictoral of synthesis by pdb

http://www.sciencemadness.org/talk/viewthread.php?tid=4457&a... synthesis described by Rosco

[Edited on 10-1-2013 by Rosco Bodine]