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Glite Dictionary
fulminating mercury

fulminating mercury

9.9
A very unstable chemical that explodes easily when hit or heated and people use in small explosive devices
  • noun
  • /ˈfʌlmɪneɪtɪŋ ˈmɜrkjʊri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mercurio fulminante
  • Old-fashioned ammunition primers often used fulminating mercury as the primary explosive.

Examples

  • If fulminating mercury dries out completely, even a slight tap can trigger an explosion.

  • The scientist handled fulminating mercury with extreme caution due to its sensitivity to shock.

  • The scientist handled fulminating mercury with extreme caution.

  • Have you ever worked with fulminating mercury?

  • Old-fashioned ammunition primers often used fulminating mercury as the primary explosive.

  • If fulminating mercury dries out completely, even a slight tap can trigger an explosion.

  • The scientist handled fulminating mercury with extreme caution due to its sensitivity to shock.

Synonyms

mercury fulminate
vsfulminating mercury
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in small caps to start larger explosions

is the same explosive compound named more descriptively with chemical details
fulminate of mercury
vsfulminating mercury
  • Specialized
9.9

A very sensitive explosive used in detonators and percussion caps

has identical meaning but uses a different phrasing for the same compound
fulminate
vsfulminating mercury
  • Specialized
9.9

A very sensitive explosive chemical used in small detonators

is narrower and refers specifically to one metal explosive used in detonators

Surface Forms

fulminating mercury singular
fulminating mercuries plural

Morphology

fulminate + mercury

The phrase is compositionally built from 'fulminate' (to cause an explosion) + 'mercury' (the metal), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a form of mercury that is explosive or causes detonation. Although it is a technical chemical name (mercury(II) fulminate), the overall meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

Fulminating mercury gets its name from the word fulminate, which means 'to explode'. It is a form of mercury that can burst into a small explosion when hit or heated, so people used it in small caps and devices that start bigger explosions.